‘Many won’t return’: Warning over GP nurse lay-offs

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association says one-in-three practice nurses have had working hours reduced
Karen Booth
APNA president Karen Booth.

More than 1000 general practice nurses have been laid off since the beginning of March and one-in-three have had working hours reduced, a national survey suggests.

GP nurses are pleading with practice owners to keep them in work during the COVID-19 lockdown, as practices look to cut costs to compensate for diminishing revenue from face-to-face care.

The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) says there has been a “knee-jerk reaction” from some practices, who responded to the initial downturn in patient numbers by offloading staff.

It says nearly two-thirds of the 14,500 nurses working in general practice have been put on notice about potential reductions to their paid work since lockdown measures began last month.