Shadow Health Minister Jo-Ann Miller says health workers across Queensland should feel very nervous about the future of their jobs after the Health Minister Lawrence Springborg’s failure to acknowledge cuts to key regional frontline staff and services at Emerald.

In Question Time today Mrs Miller asked Mr Springborg:

“Will the Minister explain how frontline positions in his portfolio are safe from the LNP’s cost cutting when at least three nursing positions have been axed at Emerald Hospital from 1 July 2012 – including the cardiac, immunisation and palliative care nurses?”

“The Emerald Queensland Nurses Unions Branch was notified that at least three nurses will have their positions terminated from June 30,” Mrs Miller said.

“Yet Mr Springborg did not even know these three frontline health positions which provide such a vital service to the Central Highlands community had been cut.

“How can Mr Springborg make assurances that frontline positions would be “quarantined” if he is not even aware of nursing positions in regional Queensland being axed,” she said.

Mrs Miller said I think regional communities and health workers throughout Queensland would have every right to feel very concerned about the future of their frontline services.

“The three nursing positions in Emerald being terminated include palliative care, cardiac rehabilitation and nurse immuniser positions,” she said.

“In a regional centre like Emerald the removal of these important frontline nursing positions will have disastrous ramifications through the Central Highlands community.

“If the Newman Government can so flippantly remove these vital positions, health workers and regional communities throughout Queensland should be very concerned what other frontline services and jobs might be next.”

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