Qld health cuts: Opposition decries changes to nurse-led clinics

The Opposition has claimed the Government is slashing health worker’s roles and operating hours at Nurse Led Clinics after a whistleblower came forward to raise concerns.

Opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey

Vital nurse-led clinics around the state are facing the scalpel, with claims jobs and opening hours will be slashed just months after their launch.

The State Opposition claims a whistleblower raised the alarm that the seven-day Brisbane City clinic, which opened in September, would have staffing reduced and opening hours “dramatically cut” to remove evening and weekend work under changes proposed by the Crisafulli government.

According to the Opposition, the state had already cut opening hours at the Gladstone nurse-led clinic, with the Brisbane CBD and Mount Gravatt clinics also facing cuts.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles said Premier David Crisafulli told Queenslanders there would be no cuts to health.

“In just over 100 days we have seen the LNP press pause on Labor’s big build, successful workforce incentives slashed against the advice of experts, and hospital programs and bed expansions cut,” Mr Miles said.

“The Crisafulli LNP government’s latest move to reduce hours and staff roles at our nurse-led clinics is another broken promise to Queenslanders.”

Opposition health spokesman Mark Bailey said Health Minister Tim Nicholls should hang his head in shame.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Friday. Picture: Richard Walker

“The Health Minister must explain how he is already satisfied that these facilities are not bang for buck and fit for purpose after just a few short months in operation,” he said.

Mr Bailey said first they cut hours at Gladstone, now they were cutting services in Brisbane City and Mt Gravatt.

“Queenslanders were sold a pup by this LNP government who said there would be no cuts to the health service,” he said.

Three free nurse-led clinics operate in Queensland and were launched by Labor to improve access to healthcare for patients aged over two years.

Walk-in services include treatment for fevers, coughs and colds among other minor health concerns.

The whistleblower told the opposition the decision by the Crisafulli government was deeply disappointing and raised concerns about the LNP’s commitment to maintaining accessible health services.

The Opposition said that in a little over 100 days the LNP had cut funding to attract world-class health workers to regional communities, taken an axe to the Townsville University Hospital expansion, and cut peri-natal mental health beds in Townsville.

A spokesperson for Mr Nicholls’ office said every dollar in Labor’s health budget would be spent, including that allocated for nurse-led clinics.

Originally published as Qld health cuts: Opposition decries changes to nurse-led clinics