OODGEROO MP Mark Robinson has called for a major upgrade of Redland Hospital after revelations that the state health system is overloaded due to an unseasonable surge in emergency department patients.
Mr Robinson said government MPs Mick de Brenni, Don Bown and Kim Richards had to take immediate action.
The government has announced that non-urgent medical issues would be postponed as the hospital system struggled with demand, especially in emergency departments.
Health Minister Steven Miles said south-east Queensland demand was unprecedented and $3 million would be used to boost capacity.
People with emergency health issues should still go to emergency departments but people with minor afflictions should go to GPs.
"Hospitals are open for emergencies but it's important people understand that the most critical people will be seen first," he said.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said emergency departments were under pressure across south-east Queensland.
"Our outstanding clinicians are working hard to ensure people are treated and admitted where required in a timely manner, but non-emergency and less severe type presentations make it much harder for us to do that," Dr Young said.
She said there was no single cause for the unprecedented spike in emergency department presentations.
"We know the summer flu season has been 2.7 times higher than average and we know continued high heat has been a big factor this summer, but we think a range of factors are contributing to the spike in demand.
"A number of hospital and health services are experiencing huge demand. For example in Metro North alone, four of their busiest ever emergency department days have been in the last month."
Dr Young said solutions included getting access to about 200 beds in aged care homes and NDIS accommodation.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said the situation was a full-blown crisis and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had no plan to fix it.
"There is a no vacancy sign on Queensland public hospitals thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk and her embattled Health Minister Steven Miles," Ms Frecklington said.
"What we are seeing ... is nothing short of a national embarrassment.
"Annastacia Palaszczuk ... has wasted nearly half a million dollars of taxpayers' money changing a hospital name in Brisbane, instead of fixing the health crisis."
Ms Frecklington called for Mr Miles to be sacked.
"Under Labor, hospitals are bursting at the seams, ramping has soared, regional maternity wards shut, and expectant mum's in the bush have been handed third-world-style DIY birthing kits," she said.
Mr Robinson said the situation had been caused by neglect.
"The Palaszczuk Labor government have been in power for over four years and they are still only planning and reviewing at Redland Hospital, instead of taking action," he said.
