$46m plan to offer free walk-in clinics for women and girls

Specialised walk-in clinics will be built across Queensland under a $46 million plan from the state government to provide free and immediate health care for women and girls.

Specialised walk-in clinics will be built across Queensland to provide free and immediate health care for women and girls.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Health Minister Shannon Fentiman will today unveil the $46 million plan to remove barriers for females seeking care.

The state government will build four free nurse-led clinics to ideally be based in shopping centres accessible by transport, open seven days a week for extended hours from 8am to 10pm.

Ms Fentiman said the progressive move is aimed at all females above the age of one where patients will feel safe and supported for their specific needs.

“We know that historically, there has been a lack of investment in health services tailored to the unique needs of Queensland women and girls,” she said.

The Health Minister will unveil the plan on Sunday. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Queensland women and girls have told us they need more options to access healthcare and we have heard their voices loud and clear.

“These new clinics will bring more healthcare to the community.”

The location of the clinics are yet to be confirmed but The Sunday Mail understands the intention is to base two in Southeast Queensland metro locations and another two in regional areas.

The Health Minister has assured females the care will be offered without the need of referrals and free regardless of whether the patient has a Medicare card or not.

Female-focused care will include access to contraception, maternal health, treatment for sexually transmissible infections, advice on period and menopause matters.

They will also offer support to channel women into care and away from domestic, family or sexual violence, while more general health care will also be provided, such as for colds, flus, cuts, wounds, burns and minor infection.

“Our investment will support Queensland families to get high level care from our highly skilled nurses close to home and faster,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The care provided will go a long way in bridging gaps to receiving culturally safe, trauma informed and gender responsive care for Queensland women and girls.”

In an exclusive column for the Sunday Mail, Ms Fentiman said the common concern raised by women was the difficulty to afford and access services.

“One woman shared her story of not being able to attend appointments because she ‘hadn’t been able to secure a babysitter’,” the Health Minister wrote.

“While another told us: ‘getting access to doctors around work hours and childcare isn’t easy’.”

Queensland Health will identify locations for the clinics as the service model develops and advances, the state government said.

But the department will prioritise communities across the state where there is a higher need of care and gaps in the access to health are most concerning.