LABOR MP Kim Richards has accused the LNP's Mark Robinson of scaremongering after he doubled down on claims Redland Hospital is not prepared to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
Oodgeroo MP Mr Robinson last week renewed his calls for critical care capacity to be increased, saying an urgent boost was needed so serious COVID-19 cases could be treated locally.
It came after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the state government was exploring options for setting up plans for temporary hospitals state-wide in vacant hotels and convention centres to treat COVID-19 patients if there was an overflow from hospitals.
"It is unacceptable that in 2020, local Redlanders must still be sent off to other hospitals to receive critical intensive care treatment and I will keep working until we get our ICU," he said.
He called on Ms Palaszczuk to consider other urgent options like a mobile ICU.
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But Redlands MP Ms Richards said Mr Robinson was using COVID-19 to score cheap political points.
"Currently we have over 500 ICU beds and ventilators available across Queensland, ensuring if Queenslanders need a specialist bed, one will be waiting," she said.
Non-urgent elective surgery was being postponed to free up space in hospitals. The state government had also bought 110 extra ventilators meaning other wards could be turned into ICU wards if required.
"Only the very sickest patients in our hospitals require admission to ICU," Ms Richards said.
"All of our Queensland hospitals are well-prepared to meet the demand of the coronavirus."
She said the Redlands community had been doing an incredible job in social distancing and self-isolation to help flatten the curve.
Mr Robinson said the number of local Redlanders presenting at Redland Hospital with coronavirus had increased so more needed to be done.
"There are early signs that the infection rate may be peaking in Queensland and if so that is good news, but we must not be complacent."