Ramping falls as Nambour Hospital expands mental health care

Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said a series of recent developments showed strong momentum at Nambour Hospital.

Nambour Hospital is delivering improved outcomes for local patients, with ambulance ramping falling to one of its lowest levels in years, major new mental health services on the way and more support available for people when they need it most.

Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt said a series of recent developments showed strong momentum at Nambour Hospital and for healthcare across the Sunshine Coast.

Latest Queensland Health data from June 2026 shows ambulance ramping at Nambour Hospital has fallen to 23.9 percent, one of the strongest improvements among Queensland’s major hospitals and well down on previous years.

Mr Hunt said the result meant patients were moving through the emergency department more efficiently, helping ambulances get back on the road sooner.

“I’m very pleased to see the latest figures at our local hospital – these are very encouraging and reflect the hard work of the Nambour Hospital and Ambulance teams,” Mr Hunt said. “Healthcare workers at Nambour Hospital are doing an incredible job under pressure, and it is encouraging to see targeted investment and initiatives helping to improve patient flow and reduce ramping.”

The improvements come as the State Government continues to expand Queensland’s health workforce, with more than 10,000 additional health workers employed in its first 20 months.

More than 7200 of those workers are frontline doctors, nurses and allied health professionals across Queensland’s hospital and health services. The Government has committed to delivering an additional 46,000 health workers by 2032. “We know our health system is only as strong as the people working in it,” Mr Hunt said. “That is why growing the workforce is so important. More doctors, nurses and allied health professionals means more support for patients and more support for the hardworking health professionals already on the frontline.”

Recruitment has also commenced for specialist mental health nurses at Nambour Hospital, providing additional support for frontline doctors and nurses caring for people experiencing mental health concerns.

The new specialist roles will help connect patients with appropriate care sooner while also supporting the hospital’s busy Emergency Department. “This is about giving our frontline health workers the additional back-up they need, while ensuring people experiencing a mental health crisis can access the right care sooner,” Mr Hunt said.

The workforce boost comes alongside major investment in new services at Nambour Hospital, including a $27 million Mother and Baby Unit.

The specialist unit will provide short to medium-term acute mental health care for mothers experiencing serious perinatal mental health challenges, while allowing them to remain with their babies in a safe and therapeutic environment. “This is a really important investment for local families,” Mr Hunt said. “Having specialist care available closer to home means mums can get the support they need without being separated from their babies and without having to travel away from their families and support networks during what can be an incredibly difficult time. This $27 million investment is about giving Sunshine Coast families confidence that high-quality specialist mental health care will be available when they need it.”

Mental health support at Nambour has also been strengthened with the recent opening of a new Crisis Support Space near the hospital’s Emergency Department.

The service provides a safe, welcoming space for people experiencing emotional or psychological distress, with people able to self-refer or present directly for support.

Mr Hunt said improving mental health care was not just about building new facilities, but ensuring people had different pathways to get help before their situation escalated.

“Whether it is specialist nurses in the Emergency Department, the new Crisis Support Space or the future Mother and Baby Unit, these services are about making sure people can get the right support at the right time,” he said.