The Blueprint for Better Healthcare in Queensland contains some very interesting data toward the back that show we have substantial disparities in the average costs of delivery across the Queensland health system. Mackay and North West health services look particularly costly. To some extent, this may be explained by their regional nature and demographics of patients, but then why do Townsville and Cairns perform so well? These data require further analysis (i.e. to what extent are differences due to differences in services offered?), but for now here they are in a chart I’ve prepared: