Redland Hospital's emergency department has received a $2.8million fillip for 10 short-stay beds as the state gears up for an election, possibly as early as February.
Local MPs and the newly-endorsed candidate for Redlands, Matthew McEachan, were due to make the announcement at the hospital on Sunday.
Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said joint representation from Redland City MPs, Mayor Karen Williams and the local community delivered the result after funding for the beds was "mothballed" in 2012.
He said the funding would increase to $4.6million next financial year to stay in line with demand for health services at Redland Hospital, which was growing at five per cent a year.
Much of the impetus for the funding came after Cr Williams wrote to Metro South Health asking for the beds' funding when her daughter was rushed to hospital in September.
She said the short-stay beds, designed to treat emergency patients who required care for up to 48hours, would free up assessment cubicles in the emergency department and ensure faster treatment.
“This will reduce pressure on arriving ambulance crews and improve the management of inpatient beds to allow more surgical patients to be cared for locally.”
Redlands LNP candidate Matthew McEachan said the short-stay beds would help improve the performance and flexibility of the Redland Hospital.
Capalaba MP Steve Davies said Metro South Health would begin recruiting staff to support the extra capacity early in the new year.
“There will be additional frontline nursing, physiotherapy, pharmacy and medical staff all working locally to provide better local access to emergency care.”
