THE Cairns Hospital has hit back at claims from the Queensland Nurses’ Union that the health service has reduced nursing staff numbers. The NCU claimed earlier in the week the hospital had reduced the number of graduate nurses it accepts annually. Chair of the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Board, Bob Norman said the claims were “rife with misinformation”. “In 2012, the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service employed 42 graduate nurses, in 2013 that number rose to 54 and as at July 7, 2014, an additional 77 graduate nurses have been employed,” he said. “The health service also has a larger nursing workforce than it did a year ago.” Mr Norman said it was “vital” the NCU provided correct information to the public. “The health service offers new graduates 0.6 full-time equivalent which allows them entry into the organisation and gives the health service better use of permanent, rather than casual staff,” he said. “It also enables the health service to employ more on-the-ground nurses.” Mr Norman rejected claims a lack of nurses had caused the Emergency Department at Cairns Hospital to reach a level three escalation last week, rendering the service unable to take new patients.