North West Hospital and Health Service have denied there is any plan to downgrade the McKinlay Bush Nurse Clinic.
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It comes after KAP leader and Member for Trager Robbie Katter said he backed community objection to the possible roll-back of services at the clinic forcing residents to travel 100km to Julia Creek.
In response to constituent complaints, Mr Katter's office said the NWHHS was considering service changes at McKinlay, plus several other sites, following "continuing stressors" of the COVID-19 pandemic with recruiting and retaining staff and service delivery.
Mr Katter said COVID or no COVID, the attack on bush services was wrong.
He said he had deep concerns that doctor and nursing staff shortages were looming for rural and regional locations, and said he would not accept those who live outside of metropolitan areas being treated like "poor cousins".
"This clinic has been running for close to 100 years and this is the second time in about a decade that locals have had to fight to save their precious service from closure; it's abhorrent that the Government has once again put it in the crosshairs," Mr Katter said.
"McKinlay's Bush Nurse Clinic provides health checks and education, home visits, pharmacy, and nursing and emergency care; these are the most basic forms of health care and it is not a luxury toexpect them to be available - would the Brisbane-based parties consider removing these services in south-east Queensland?"
While the Department of Health told Mr Katter's office discussions were at a preliminary stage and local staff and residents would be kept engaged and notified, locals said a lack of communication had left them shocked and angry.
However when asked directly by the North West Star whether there was a plan to downgrade or close McKinlay's Bush Nurse Clinic, a spokesperson for the NWHHS simply replied "no".
The controversy comes a month after the Julia Creek MPHS was downgraded due to staffing issues.
A NWHHS spokesperson said the service would remain as a Level 1 facility as Julia Creek MPHS continues to experience staff shortages
"However proactive recruitment of nursing staff is continuing," the spokesperson said.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
