Tuesday's State Budget will make 400 Nurse Navigator positions permanent, recognising the success of the Palaszczuk Government's program.
Speaking today at the Nurse Navigator Showcase at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH), Health Minister Steven Miles announced the government would fund the Nurse Navigator program ongoing.
"We created the Nurse Navigator position in 2015 - the first of its kind in Australia – and at the 2017 election we committed to employ 400 Nurse Navigators across Queensland. The position has been such a success and helped so many people, we're now making these positions a permanent part of our healthcare delivery," Minister Miles said.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committing to funding the program on an ongoing and recurrent basis, with an additional $116.8 million in this budget.
"Our commitment to Nurse Navigators is the largest single investment in nursing made by a State Government in Australia – an investment of $398 million from July 2015 to June 2023."
Minister Miles said the Nurse Navigator position was created to help patients who have complex health issues navigate the health system to get the best care possible.
"Imagine you're a patient with a complex health condition, you require multiple visits to different specialists and sometimes even at different hospitals. It can be confusing during a very stressful time," he said.
"The highly experienced Nurse Navigators play an integral role in a patient's health care journey, ensuring they are seen by the right person, at the right time and in the right place.
"Not only do they help patients navigate the system, but they also educate them about self-managing their conditions and improving their way of life."
Nakia Goldsmith, a dedicated Nurse Navigator at Metro North Hospital and Health Service, said her role clarifies the health system for patients and their care givers to give order to the sometimes-perplexing puzzle of healthcare.
"Over the past three years I have had the pleasure of following the health journey of some of the most inspiring individuals I have ever met. I have been welcomed into homes, into medical specialists' appointments and into families, armed with advice, plans and a listening ear," Ms Goldsmith said.
"At the end of the journey I take a moment to look back and with great joy see how far these complex patients and their families have come with the help of navigation."
Minister Miles said that since coming to Government, as at March 2019, more than 5,988 full time equivalent nurses and midwives have been employed across the state take care of sick Queenslanders.
"We're also committing $30.7 million over 2021-22 and 2022-23 for the additional 100 midwife positions.
"We're employing, training, protecting and supporting our nurses and midwives because we highly value them and the hard work they do for the health of the people of Queensland."
The Palaszczuk Government is hiring more doctors, nurses and clinicians, investing in jobs today and for the future..
