Community nursing support program
On this page:
- About the program
- Cessation of the program
- Complaints
About the program
The temporary community nursing support program provides a broad range of low-intensity nursing support services to people who have a chronic health, mental health, disability or other condition that affects their ability to carry out activities of daily living.
Examples of community nursing supports available include (but are not limited to):
- PEG feeding
- catheter care
- skin integrity checks
- tracheostomy care.
Service providers have some scope to be flexible in relation to geographic area and allied health support services.
Cessation of the temporary program
Important note: community nursing support program providers are no longer accepting new clients.
Queensland Health established the program in July 2019 as a temporary initiative to bridge potential service gaps while Queensland transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
In line with the transition of disability-related health supports to be funded through the NDIS, the community nursing support program is ending.
Service providers stopped accepting new referrals from mid December 2020 and will work with clients to ensure that continuity of care for clients is priority. Clients will be supported to transition to appropriate ongoing care.
Transition information for existing clients
Existing clients will continue to receive supports if needed until they transition to the NDIS or another service.
Queensland Health is working closely with service providers to ensure appropriate transition plans are in place for all remaining clients.
For clients seeking information about accessing nursing supports through the NDIS go to www.ndis.gov.au or call 1800 800 110. Clients can also speak with their NDIS Planner or Local Area Coordinator.
Clients who are not eligible for the NDIS should speak to their community nursing service provider about transitioning to alternative arrangements.
Receiving supports from a hospital emergency department is not considered a suitable alternative arrangement.
Complaints
Every community nursing support program client has the right to lodge a complaint about the service they have received. In the first instance, complaints should be directed to the organisation providing the service to give them a chance to fix the problem.
If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction by the service provider, you may wish to have the complaint dealt with by the Office of the Health Ombudsman.