The spread of nurse-led clinics across Canberra could lead to a two-tiered health system, where patients who cannot afford to see a GP are left with substandard care by nurses, the RACGP says.

Debate over clinics reignited last month after the ACT government pledged to increase the number of centres in Canberra from five to 10, if returned to power in this month’s election.

In a position statement released on Wednesday, the RACGP warns nurse-led care could result in less-common conditions going unrecognised, arguing that differential diagnosis “cannot be taught as a stand-alone course” and therefore went beyond the training of nurses.

“Nurses are also not trained to independently manage patients with multiple comorbidities and complex care priorities, particularly where the patient has been prescribed multiple medications,” the college adds.