Queensland Health has recently announced an interpretation of the law which could put nurse-led clinics out of business and impact patient access to safe, affordable cosmetic treatments. A recently released factsheet, if enforced, would:

• Require doctor presence onsite for nurses to be able to obtain and possess stock of cosmetic medicines at their clinic; or, to put it another way
• Ban nurses from obtaining and possessing medication stock in clinics unless a doctor also physically works at the clinic (telehealth would not be sufficient).

If enforced, this interpretation could reduce treatment options, increase costs, and limit access to care, especially in rural and regional areas. It is also likely to encourage illegal operators, compromising patient safety.

From a nurse-led clinic perspective, these changes would:

• Affect 1,000 medical aesthetic practices serving over 250,000 Queensland patients.
• Disproportionately impact women-led businesses, a key area of female entrepreneurship.
• Create barriers to care in already underserved rural areas.
• Undermine patient safety and medical oversight, as the current model ensures secure medication management and high standards of care.

Clinic owners and healthcare professionals uphold best practices to deliver safe, high-quality care. We urge the House to find a regulatory solution and prioritise patient safety, accessibility, and the success of nurse-led clinics.