❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) fuel subsidy increase and its impact on country patients accessing specialist medical treatment in Western Australia. The Minister provides data on PATS usage and justifies the policy by highlighting increased regional specialist services.
AnsweredQoN 654Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s recent decision to increase the patient assisted travel scheme fuel subsidy from 13c to 15c per kilometre for country patients who travel more than 100 kilometres for treatment more than four times a year. (1) How many patients have used PATS in the past 12 months? (2) How many of these patients would have qualified for the 15c per kilometre subsidy? (3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(1) How many patients have used PATS in the past 12 months? (2) How many of these patients would have qualified for the 15c per kilometre subsidy? (3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(2) How many of these patients would have qualified for the 15c per kilometre subsidy? (3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(1) How many patients have used PATS in the past 12 months? (2) How many of these patients would have qualified for the 15c per kilometre subsidy? (3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(2) How many of these patients would have qualified for the 15c per kilometre subsidy? (3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(3) How does the minister justify his health policy which requires country people to travel further to receive specialist medical treatment, but which provides a reduced real rate of travel assistance to help them access this treatment? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
I thank the member for some notice of this question, as it has enabled me to get the figures to answer the question. (1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(1) I will provide the answer to this part of the question under three headings. In the South West Area Health Service, 9 666 trips were undertaken. Some of the patients involved made multiple trips, but that is the number of trips that were subsidised. I do not have the figures for the WA Country Health Service for the past 12 months, as the 2005-06 data to date is not available. However, in 2004-05, 36 847 PATS trips were undertaken. In the Peel Health Service, 305 trips were undertaken. (2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(2) The 15c per kilometre subsidy, which is applicable to families who live more than 100 kilometres from the specialist service and who have needed to access PATS four or more times within the year, became effective on 1 October 2005. There were 3 907 patients who would have qualified to receive the 15c per kilometre subsidy, based on the figures I have just provided. (3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
(3) An increased number of specialist medical services is being provided closer to home due to the continued increase in the number of specialist services within the regional resource centres, and outreach services are also being provided to other towns in the country. This has led to many patients being able to travel less distance to see the closest specialist. The PATS policy stipulates that patients are referred to the nearest treating specialist. Patient travel to the metropolitan area is usually to see specialists who do not provide any outreach services to the country or for the patient to access services that are provided only in the metropolitan area, such as cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, specialist orthopaedics, and ear, nose and throat services; services such as chemotherapy, dialysis review and sleep clinics; and some specialist paediatric services. There is also the provision of a flat-rate subsidy of $20 per trip, rather than the cost per kilometre rate, for patients from the Peel area and other centres within 70 to 100 kilometres who need frequent specialist visits in the metropolitan area. PATS is not intended to cover the total cost of travel and accommodation of people who travel, but is meant as a subsidy for the cost of travel and accommodation. The recent 15 per cent increase in the fuel subsidy for frequent users of PATS was designed to relieve some of the financial pressures faced by country people suffering illness.
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