Unions warn of unprotected strike action in response to 130 jobs being cut from health sector in Townsville region

HEALTH workers poised to strike following loss of 130 full-time jobs, including 45 nurses, but the minister says it was local health board's call.

MORE than 130 full-time jobs, including 45 nursing positions, have been axed across Queensland Health facilities in Townsville and nearby areas.

Another 71 jobs will go over the coming 12 months, staff were told today.

The Queensland Nurses Union has denounced the Newman Government cost-cutting as an over-reaction to the state's budget situation.

Secretary Beth Mohle said the union would this afternoon lodge a dispute in the industrial relations commission and local branches would call extraordinary meetings amid talk of possible unprotected strike action.

"Our fear is that this is just the beginning," she said.

"We certainly have left a message in the Minister's office to express our extreme concern and great disappointment.

"We'd been given a guarantee that frontline staff wouldn't be affected but certainly it is the case that 45 nursing positions are going - you couldn't get more frontline than that."

The Townsville Hospital is the tertiary referral, acute care hospital for the Northern Zone of Queensland Health.

A spokesman for Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the cuts were "purely a local decision" as it was now up to local health boards, established in July, to decide their priorities.

"It's about ensuring more frontline effort but it is totally up them how they choose to deliver that," he said.

"The Minister is fully supportive of the (Townsville) board.

"We want local boards to engage in strategies that produce more efficient outcomes."

Together union secretary Alex Scott accused Mr Springborg of hiding behind the boards as bad news was delivered.

He called for LNP MPs in the Townsville area to stand up against the cuts, saying Queenslanders wanted "backbenchers with backbone".

"We believe with more support from the Queensland community, this Government can be forced to be accountable and transparent and reduce the job cuts across the public sector to a more realistic number," he said.

It is believed the Government is looking to cull up to 4000 staff from Queensland Health, a target it believes can be met without affecting frontline services.

Up to 15,000 jobs are being targeted across the entire Queensland public service.