The new Queensland health minister Cameron Dick said not one cent of a $77 million budget set aside for the previous government's Wait Time Guarantee surgery program was actually allocated to patient care.

Mr Dick said on Sunday he was shocked to discover a $15 million component had been set aside exclusively for advertising campaigns, with the rest for red tape including consultants.

Queensland health minister Cameron Dick. Credit:Michelle Smith

"$77 million equates to an additional 4000 hip replacement surgeries," he said.

"Mr Springborg and the LNP had plenty of money to put ads on television, and no money to put patients in beds."