We’re investing over $1 billion to build a bigger and better Cairns Hospital.
The upgrades include:
- new buildings and a multi-level car park
- major upgrades to existing hospital buildings
- more beds and operating rooms
- more health services.
Read about changes to hospital access and parking.
Why we’re expanding
Our region is growing, and our hospital needs to grow too. A larger, improved hospital will mean more services, better health care for everyone, and new ideas that attract skilled health professionals.
The Queensland Government is funding the expansion to make sure we meet the needs of our community, now and in the future.
We've planned the upgrades based on:
- our medical and clinical health service needs
- information about our population and expected growth
- feedback and consultation with our patients and community
- advice from builders, engineers and design experts
- feedback from our staff, nurses, doctors and clinical experts.
What we’re building
We’re improving Cairns Hospital with new buildings and services over the next 30 years. Upgrades started in 2024 as part of the Cairns Hospital expansion project.
Read more about these projects on the Queensland Health and Queensland Government websites.
Key improvements
- 2 new buildings
- Operating theatres
- Medical wards
- Adolescent mental health ward
- Specialist outpatients clinic
- Medical imaging, pathology and pharmacy
- Research and innovation spaces
- Rooftop helipad
- Kitchen upgrades
- Multi-level car park
Planned upgrades
Hospital expansion
The Cairns Hospital expansion began in 2024, and by 2027 we’ll have:
- 2 new medical wards with 64 beds
- adolescent mental health ward with 8 beds
- kitchen upgrades to support a new ‘meals on demand’ service.
New outpatient clinics for respiratory, rheumatology and tuberculosis opened in 2025.
Master plan – stage 1
Our master plan upgrades started in 2026. We’ll have more beds, new services and spaces, and the following new buildings and features by 2031.
Health innovation and surgical centre
The Health Innovation and Surgical Centre will increase surgical capacity and help us become a regional hub for health care, education and research. The new building will connect to the existing hospital, and include:
- 4 new operating theatres
- 40 beds
- 16 spaces for day surgery
- innovation spaces for clinical trials, simulations and collaboration
- specialist outpatients department
- support services for medical imaging, pathology and pharmacy.
Health management hub
The Health Management Hub will be a central office building for management, business support and admin staff. Located next to the James Cook University Dugurrdja precinct, the hub will make it easier for our staff to work together.
Multi-level car park
A multi-level car park with about 950 spaces will provide more staff parking, and free up hospital parking for patients and visitors.
Helipad
A rooftop helipad on the main hospital building (D block) will help us move patients quickly and safely by helicopter.
Podium and support services
A podium beside the main hospital building (D block) will include support services, a multi-faith centre and a covered outdoor dining area for staff. The podium will provide access to helipad lifts.
Future master plan upgrades
Our plans extend past 2031. Over the coming years, we’re also planning:
- a large new acute services building
- an expanded mental health unit
- further upgrades to existing hospital buildings
- more green space to connect our new precincts.
Timeline
2026 – Work starts on our rooftop helipad and new youth mental health ward. Our new medical ward in D block opens, and we’re preparing land for stage 1 buildings.
2027 – We open the rooftop helipad, multi-faith centre, new adolescent mental health ward, and part of our new medical ward in B block.
2027 to 2031 – The final stage of our new medical ward in B block opens. Building works begin for the Health Innovation and Surgical Centre, Health Management Hub and multi-level staff car park.
Beyond 2031 – Future upgrades and new building works begin.
Jobs
As we grow and finish our upgrades, we’ll need new staff to join our team. We'll have jobs across all areas including nursing, medicine, allied health and business support.
Search our vacancies to join more than 6,000 staff who deliver health services in our region.
Get involved
We’re working with people and groups from our community to help plan the upgrades and get feedback. This includes design user groups where we co-design clinical and public spaces with architects and clinicians.
We're also working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Traditional Owners to make sure the upgrades are culturally safe.
If you’d like to be involved you can join our community consultation committees.
Prospectus
Read more about the Cairns Health and Innovation Precinct: A tropical precinct led by research [PDF 8287.68 KB].
Contact us today and be part of taking Cairns, tropical health, and innovation to the next level.
Contact
Phone: 1800 312 777
Email: HIQ_Cairns@health.qld.gov.au
For information about tenders visit the QTenders website in the coming months.
Learn about upgrades and projects at other facilities in our region.