The Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU) has welcomed the state government’s announcement of four new nurse-led healthcare clinics across Queensland.

The four walk-in clinics will be staffed by nurse practitioners and nurses with a focus on the healthcare needs of women and girls.

The nurse practitioner level care will be free of charge, regardless of whether those who access the service have a Medicare card or not.

The Miles Government has committed $46 million to establish the new clinics in regions of high need as part of the soon to be released Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Strategy 2032.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the Women and Girls Health Strategy had the biggest engagement of any Queensland government survey ever.

“We heard loud and clear that women and girls wanted better access to tailored healthcare services in their communities.”

Women focused healthcare such as access to contraception, maternal health, treatment for sexually transmissible infections, advice on period and menopause as well as support and referrals for women experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence.

Each clinic will be open for extended hours (8am to 10pm) seven days a week to accommodate work and school schedules, providing free access to healthcare delivered by NPs and nurses.

“Our investment will support Queensland families to get high level care from our highly skilled nurses close to home and faster,” said Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Service and Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman.

“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.”

QNMU Secretary Sarah Beaman commended the state government for the increased investment in nurses and innovative models of nurse-led primary care.

“The QNMU applauds this increased investment in nurses and in innovative models of nurse-led primary care which will allow more Queenslanders to receive quality, safe healthcare in the community, without the need to go to an ED or a doctor.”

Ms Beaman said it was a win for the QNMU which had long-campaigned for the establishment of nurse-led models of care in Queensland, pointing to the success of walk-in clinics in the ACT and Tasmania.

“Nurse-led practice models in the ACT and Tasmania have been very successful in providing people with treatment and preventative healthcare, helping alleviate wait times in EDs, as hospitals struggle with workforce shortages and increased demands for health services.

“In a cost-of-living crisis, free healthcare has never been more important, and some of our QNMU members have expressed concerns that our EDs are becoming a ‘one-stop shop’ for all kinds of health conditions.

The Women and Girls Health Strategy survey identified a number of barriers women and girls face to accessing healthcare such as financial and transport barriers.

The clinics are aimed to help address these barriers – no booking or referral will be required, and they will be placed in accessible locations such as shopping centres, with nearby public transport and parking.

While the clinics aim to provide ease for women and girls, anyone over the age of one can access care at the clinics.

Premier Miles said he would continue to champion for models of care closer to point of need, such as the federal government’s urgent care clinics.