More nurses and midwives need to be injected into Queensland’s health system to compliment the State Government’s budget cash splash, according to the Queensland Nurses Union.

Union secretary Beth Mohle applauded the government’s record $11 billion health budget which detailed plans to build new health facilities and expand others.

But Ms Mohle said the state was already in the midst of a workforce shortage and it was “critical” to have more nurses and midwives on the ground.

“Queensland Health figures have estimated that they will need an extra 5500 full time equivalent nurses and midwives to staff those facilities,” she said.

“Where are they coming from? That’s what we want to know.

“It’s something that we are really, really passionate and concerned about.”

Ms Mohle said despite universities adding additional places, some graduates were missing out on employment opportunities at Queensland Health.

“They are currently not able to employ new graduates,” she said.

“We are in a workforce shortage now…this sends a very mixed message.”

Ms Mohle said it appeared more nurses nearing retirement were remaining in their jobs as a result of the global financial crisis.

“Even though our nurses are ageing, anecdotally we have found because of the GFC a lot of nurses who were planning on retiring have put that off,” she said.

“They are delaying retirement so the turnover in Queensland Health is really minimal right now and vacancy is low as well.”

Ms Mohle said the national health reforms, including the introduction of local hospital networks, could create new employment opportunities for nurses and other health workers.