The number of category 1 patients presenting at hospitals across the district, which also includes the Princess Alexandra and QEII hospitals, jumped by more than 35 per cent from 2017 to 2018.

That meant a jump of nearly 1000 critical patients, from 2632 in 2017 to 3562 in 2018.

Category 1 patients are classified as those requiring immediate life-saving care, while category 2  are those requiring imminent life-saving care.

Category 2 patients jumped by a little over 12 per cent but the overall numbers in the category are bigger, with the numbers lifting by more than 6000 to 56,284 in 2018.

Metro South Health chief executive Dr Stephen Ayre said despite the surge in critical patients, the overall number of patients went up by less than 1 per cent, due to a drop in the number of lower category patients.

“Thanks to a variety of factors, including a relatively weak flu season, fewer triage category 4 and 5 patients have presented to our emergency departments this year,” Dr Ayre said.

“Fewer people presenting with less-urgent illnesses helps ensure beds throughout the region
are available for our sickest patients.”

Metro South said Logan Hospital had seen the biggest increase in category 1 and 2 patients, and the biggest fall in the lower categories.

This was attributed to the growing population in the surrounding area, growing more quickly than more established areas such as that around the PA Hospital.

A large number of aged care homes are near Logan Hospital, which can result in a large number of older patients with “complex” issues to be dealt with by medical staff.

By 2021-22, Logan Hospital is projected to see a 42 per cent increase in admissions, and a 20 per cent increase in emergency department presentations.

To deal with the growing demand, the hospital is in the middle of a $280 million* expansion to add four floors, 195 additional beds and 11 new treatment areas to the facility.

Redland Hospital also saw a smaller but significant jump in its critical patients, which was attributed to a growing population in its area.

Overall Queensland Health said the reduction in the number of lower-category patients presenting to emergency departments reflected the fact that education campaigns around getting people to avoid going to hospital if they didn’t need to appeared to be working.

A Metro South spokesperson said there had not been any strain placed on emergency department waiting times as a result of the increased critical patient load.

*Correction- a previous version of this story stated the Logan Hospital expansion was valued at $112 million.