A RISE in the number of patients with urgent and life-threatening conditions across Metro South hospitals is placing pressure on all hospital services, not just emergency departments.
Emergency departments at Metro South Health hospitals, including Redland, Logan and Beaudesert, saw 45 per cent more Category 1 patients in March 2019 compared to March 2018.
It came after one of the busiest Februaries on record for local emergency departments.
Acting head of Metro South Health Robert Mackway-Jones said 356 Category 1 patients had presented to emergency departments last month, compared to 246 in March 2018.
"Of these, 99 per cent were seen within the recommended times," he said.
The increase in patients had affected all hospital services.
"More patients requiring immediate or imminent life-saving care have been treated in Metro South Health emergency departments this year than ever before," Mr Mackway-Jones said.
"Critically ill or injured patients typically require more care and take longer to recover, with these figures highlighting the importance of efficient patient flow process to help ensure they receive timely and high-quality care."
Mr Mackway-Jones said overall presentations across Metro South Health emergency departments had increased by two per cent in March 2019 compared to March 2018.
"Addressing emergency department wait times is a key priority for Metro South Health and we are employing a range of strategies and initiatives to achieve this," he said.
Demand for elective surgery also continues to rise.
Metro South Health treated 2268 elective surgery patients at the end of March 2019 compared to 2,039 at the end of March 2018 - an increase of 11.2 per cent.
"Our clinical teams deserve enormous credit for managing the growing demand we are experiencing across our region and continuing to deliver exceptional healthcare to our community, despite additional pressures such as the summer flu season and the upcoming winter period," Mr Mackway-Jones said.
"It takes a special kind of person to work on the frontline, and front of mind for all our clinical staff is to get patients well and back to their families as soon as possible."
