Tasmania’s public sector and graduate nurses are in limbo as the State Government works to trim $100 million from its health budget this financial year.

The government has postponed its recruitment of 120 graduate nurses while there are union fears nursing positions will be axed under the budget cuts.

Australian Nursing Federation Tasmanian branch secretary Neroli Ellis said the union was seeking an urgent meeting with the government in a bid to protect all 120 graduate positions.

Ms Ellis said the government’s decision had come after the mainland hospital recruitment period had closed.

“The most concerning issue at present is the total lack of regard for our future workforce and the quarantining of the graduate positions,” she said.

“Tasmanian has over 300 nursing graduates per year and only 120 funded public sector graduate positions.

“The DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) has targeted these positions in the south and north-west of Tasmania which is short sighted and reflects poor management of workforce planning.

“Tasmanian nurses and midwives are the oldest average age and there will be a recruitment crisis in five years.”

Ms Ellis said public sector nurses were also “anxious” about their future.

“Despite the (Health) Minister continuing to state that there is no intention to affect frontline services, any cut to nursing positions will reduce services,” she said.

“With major hospital occupancy over 97 percent in all wards, there is no fat in the system with increasing pressures, shorter length of stay and emergency presentations continuing to rise.

“Beds have not been closed and demand to bed access is extreme as the balance between elective surgery and coping with emergency admissions tightens.

“Services will have to be reduced, and it is impossible to reduce operational budgets to this extreme level and expect to continue to offer all services.”

Ms Ellis called on the government to openly outline a clear strategy involving health professionals and community consultation.