❓ Hon. Tim Clifford asks about the number of Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) officers in the Kimberley region and alternative arrangements for processing forms given office closures. Hon. Pierre Yang responds, confirming the FTE budget and detailing supplementary support from WACHS.
AnsweredQoN 1021Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme1021.Hon Tim Cliffordto
theparliamentary secretary representing the Minister
for Health:(1) Can the minister confirm the current number of
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) officers employed in the Kimberley region
and whether this number is deficient or has changed in the past 12 months?(2) Given that the PATS offices in Kununurra,
Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Wyndham and Halls Creek appear to be closed, what
alternative arrangements have been made to ensure timely processing of forms A
and B for patients in these communities?
theparliamentary secretary representing the Minister
for Health:(1) Can the minister confirm the current number of
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) officers employed in the Kimberley region
and whether this number is deficient or has changed in the past 12 months?(2) Given that the PATS offices in Kununurra,
Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Wyndham and Halls Creek appear to be closed, what
alternative arrangements have been made to ensure timely processing of forms A
and B for patients in these communities?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 November 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Pierre Yang replied:I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has
been provided by the Minister for Health.(1) The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme Kimberley
service is budgeted to 7.4 FTEs for the 2025–26 financial year. There
has been some recent local vacancy due to workforce movements. However, this
has been supplemented by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) PATS program
team, which is based in WACHS's area office.(2) WACHS provides PATS support at all health
sites, including where there is no dedicated PATS office. WACHS is providing
additional PATS application processing services to support a continued timely
service.
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has
been provided by the Minister for Health.(1) The Patient Assisted Travel Scheme Kimberley
service is budgeted to 7.4 FTEs for the 2025–26 financial year. There
has been some recent local vacancy due to workforce movements. However, this
has been supplemented by the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) PATS program
team, which is based in WACHS's area office.(2) WACHS provides PATS support at all health
sites, including where there is no dedicated PATS office. WACHS is providing
additional PATS application processing services to support a continued timely
service.
Patient Assisted Travel Scheme
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