Queensland Health sets up triage tents outside Redland Hospital as state's health system battles COVID surge

Air-conditioned tents are being set up at Redland Hospital in a bid to increase capacity and reduce transmission risk for other emergency patients.

It comes as authorities said Queensland's hospitals are "bearing up" to the COVID-19 outbreak

The state recorded another 13 virus deaths and 10,212 new cases from 19,926 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Monday.

But just days ago a Metro South Health spokeswoman said the number of people presenting to hospitals with the virus had increased and that trend was expected to continue over coming weeks.

"A temporary structure is being established outside the Redland Hospital emergency department as part of our COVID-19 response," she said.

"With increased hospital presentations expected in the coming weeks, this space will provide a dedicated space for the emergency department to triage and assess COVID-19 positive or suspect cases."

The temporary structures are set to be in place at the hospital by early next month and will remain as long as they are required to support the COVID response.

Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson said it was sad the government had to resort to temporary measures.

"The state government hasn't listened to frontline healthcare staff and that's another reason why Queensland Health and Redland Hospital is in crisis," he said.

"The LNP opposition has been calling for the government to plan properly for surges expected to impact our health system, and we know this has been coming for some time."

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the temporary structures were intended as an overflow to ease congestion at emergency departments.

"We want to make sure we can have that space and social distancing as much as we can in our EDs," she said.

"It is really important that we do implement these measures just to ease some of those pressures on our EDs."

Capalaba MP Don Brown thanked frontline workers at Redland Hospital and urged people to be patient.