Drunks, people affected by drugs or suffering the effects of violence who end up in watchhouses will be treated by on-call paramedics and nurses from New Year's Eve, Health Minister Lawrence Springborg announced Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Until the trial across 17 watchhouses was announced on Sunday, people in these situations were treated by a small number of nurses and police staff at the individual watchhouses, Mr Springborg said.
"In many cases these people are awaiting proper assessment by the police and they are working out what they are going to do with regards to charging those particular people," he said.
The plan is linked to the State Government's March announcement of 15 "Safe Night Precincts" and "Sober Safe Centres" to be established in Queensland and run by local boards.
People could be fined $220 if they are held in one these 15 "Sober Safe Centres", which may or may not end up being police watch houses.
Paramedics and nurses will work Friday and Saturday nights at Beenleigh, Toowoomba, Richlands, Ipswich, Brisbane City, Pine Rivers, Cleveland, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, Cairns, Mt Isa, Redcliffe, Maroochydore, Southport and Surfers Paradise watchouses.
The trial will cost $800,000 until the end of 2014-15 and $1.6 million over the 12 months.
Mr Springborg said he had spoken with the Queensland Police Union about the need for nurses working at watchhouses.
"They actually made the suggestion about the need for more nurses in watchhouses," he said.
"And in a subsequent discussion with Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart he has also indicated that this is something that should be done."
Mr Springborg said although some watchhouse staff were trained in first aid, they were not "medically" trained.
"They have the training to provide direct assistance if necessary, the skill to keep a patient stable and the knowledge to co-ordinate access to appropriate transport and medical resources," he said.
"Nurses and paramedics have the training and experience to identify and address the likelihood and consequences of mental and physical conditions."
Queensland Nurses Union state secretary Beth Mohle said the first she knew of the trial was when she saw the media release on Sunday.
Ms Mohle said a similar trial in New South Wales had been scaled back, because there was not the demand for nurse and paramedics in watchhouses.
She said the Queensland Nurses Union had raised concerns about the details of different arms of the Safe Night Out Strategy.
"We need to be consulted about these things, " Ms Mohle said.
"That is the problem, the government makes these sweeping announcements without any consultation," she said.
The Brisbane Watchhouse is part of the Safe Sober Centre pilot project, which is still being formulated.
Mr Springborg said an extra $1.6 million had been allocated to resource the trial for the next 12 months.
"So this comes with new funding and resources and that is what we have done with out time in government."
Money from the Safe Night Strategy fines do not cover the watch house project, which is new funding, a spokesman for Mr Springborg said.
