Nurses in their hundreds have taken to State Parliament in Brisbane to voice their discontent with cuts to Queensland Health staff.

The protest was mobilised by the Queensland Nurses Union, which is concerned State and Federal governments might be moving to a more heavily privatised hospital system and general health restructure.

QNU secretary Beth Mohle says members are determined in their opposition: “It's in our DNA to defend universal health care, where access to care is based on need and not capacity to pay...this is something our members feel very very strongly about...we won't stand for privatisation of public health services, whether it's the State Government doing it or it's the Federal Government supporting it,” she said.

There have been several moves on the State and Federal levels recently that have made nurses wonder where their industry might be heading, including a plan to use extensive private sector investment to build the Sunshine Coast's new hospital.