After Queensland Health announced their decision to axe 32 jobs from Brisbane’s only free sexual health clinic, wellness experts have commented that local sexual wellness will be at risk, and the rates of sexually transmitted diseases will increase.
Before moving away two years ago, Rohan Anderson worked as a Specialist Sexual Health Nurse at the centre for eight years. According to Anderson, the centre was well-respected for its discretion, providing assistance to people without them having to reveal their identity. ‘People who have made regretful mistakes and are not prepared to have their name put against it for fear of reprisals are able to use pseudonyms at Brisbane Sexual Health and gain access to non-judgmental health professionals and free treatment. This avoids putting partners and others at risk. These are the type of same day public health measures required around such a sensitive, specialist field that GPs cannot provide anonymously or for free.’
He also warned that cutting the service is not as effective as Queensland Health may think. ‘Hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have been saved over the years by this important prevention service. When a person is diagnosed with HIV, it costs the government in the vicinity of $20,000 – $25,000 dollars in drugs, laboratory testing and medical services per year for the rest of their lives,’ he said. ‘I lost count of the number of people who came back and credited us for the fact that they do not have HIV or other blood viruses today. Closing this prevention service is a very short-sighted money saving venture and makes no public health sense.’
Nurse Phil Browne, who has 30 years experience, with the majority helping patients in the sex health area, added, ‘This will result in more people with undiagnosed and untreated STIs, spreading their infections to more sexual partners. If this decision is not reversed we can expect a further increase in STI rates in Queensland – though more new infections will remain undetected, as fewer people at risk of STIs will be getting tested.’
He also noted that the staff at the clinic have questioned Queensland Health’s suggestion that clients at the centre simply go to their local GPs for HIV drugs. ‘There are up to 600 HIV clients currently using this clinic. They must be transferred to a limited number of GPs who are certified S100 prescribers, as not every GP can prescribe HIV medications,’ he said. A rally to protest Queensland Health’s decision to remove 32 specialist positions from Brisbane’s only sexual health clinic was held last week.
Comments are closed.