Toowoomba Hospital expansion to add cancer centre and expanded maternity unit

The Queensland government has confirmed a $340 million expansion of Toowoomba Hospital that will add a comprehensive cancer treatment centre, an expanded maternity unit with a new special care nursery, and additional inpatient capacity across three new clinical wings.

The cancer centre, which will provide radiation oncology, chemotherapy, and specialist oncology consultation services, will eliminate the need for most Darling Downs and South West Queensland cancer patients to travel to Brisbane for treatment — a journey that currently imposes significant practical and financial burdens on regional patients and their families. Modelling shows approximately 1,100 patients per year will benefit from the on-site services.

Premier Steven Miles described the cancer centre as a matter of equity for regional Queenslanders who had lived with an unjust disparity in health access for too long. "If you live in Toowoomba and you get a cancer diagnosis, you should be able to receive world-class treatment near your home, near your family, in your community," he said.

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Paul Antonio said the hospital expansion was the most significant health infrastructure investment in the Darling Downs in a generation. He noted that the health sector, including the hospital, allied health services, and medical education, was already the region's largest employer with more than 8,000 positions, and the expansion would generate at least 400 additional permanent roles.

Construction is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year, with the cancer centre — the most urgently needed element — targeted for completion by late 2028.

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