❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Health on the lack of significant investment in the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) despite previous commitments. The Minister defends the government's approach, highlighting investment in telehealth and other services.
AnsweredQoN 781Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL
SCHEME — FUNDING
781. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
The minister has now had four budgets to address this. He told this place in
2018 that he would look at the recommendations
of the 2015 PATS inquiry, and, again, in 2019 that he was ready to start the investment cycle. Why is the minister
dragging his heels and why is there not significant investment in the s tate
budget to support this critically important program for regional patients?
SCHEME — FUNDING
781. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
The minister has now had four budgets to address this. He told this place in
2018 that he would look at the recommendations
of the 2015 PATS inquiry, and, again, in 2019 that he was ready to start the investment cycle. Why is the minister
dragging his heels and why is there not significant investment in the s tate
budget to support this critically important program for regional patients?
AnswerView source ↗
I want members to appreciate that
because of our investment in the WA Country Health Service and advances in
telehealth—this is an eye-watering statistic—we have saved the
equivalent of going to the moon 32 times and back in air miles that patients do not have to travel because this government
is investing in telehealth and new digital ways that we can deliver
their health care. WA Country Health Service has never been in better shape. We
will continue to invest in the PATS service by making sure we overcome the
waitlist that existed when the member left office, continuing to digitise the
service and continuing to invest in PATS so that it can support patients. There
is one way we can better serve WA country
patients, and that is not necessarily having them come to Perth at all. That is
why we are investing so much in
telehealth. That is why we are investing so much in the redevelopment of our
hospitals. That is why we are investing in medihotels, so that we can
better support those patients when they do come to Perth.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member! Member for Dawesville, you have
been very quiet today.
Mr R.H. COOK : I was thinking
of a patient in the member for Central Wheatbelt's electorate. She came
from Toodyay. She had been discharged from hospital around 6.00 pm.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Sorry—the
member for Moore's electorate. She was discharged at 6.00 pm and was
confronting the prospect of having to drive home that night. Rather than having
to be driven home, that patient was put up in our medihotel at Royal Perth
Hospital. She was cared for, she was able to be catered for, and she had a great
night's sleep, and the next morning she was able to drive home at the
comfort of her own pace. This is what governments do when they invest heavily
in health care. This is the reason we need a McGowan Labor government.
because of our investment in the WA Country Health Service and advances in
telehealth—this is an eye-watering statistic—we have saved the
equivalent of going to the moon 32 times and back in air miles that patients do not have to travel because this government
is investing in telehealth and new digital ways that we can deliver
their health care. WA Country Health Service has never been in better shape. We
will continue to invest in the PATS service by making sure we overcome the
waitlist that existed when the member left office, continuing to digitise the
service and continuing to invest in PATS so that it can support patients. There
is one way we can better serve WA country
patients, and that is not necessarily having them come to Perth at all. That is
why we are investing so much in
telehealth. That is why we are investing so much in the redevelopment of our
hospitals. That is why we are investing in medihotels, so that we can
better support those patients when they do come to Perth.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member! Member for Dawesville, you have
been very quiet today.
Mr R.H. COOK : I was thinking
of a patient in the member for Central Wheatbelt's electorate. She came
from Toodyay. She had been discharged from hospital around 6.00 pm.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Sorry—the
member for Moore's electorate. She was discharged at 6.00 pm and was
confronting the prospect of having to drive home that night. Rather than having
to be driven home, that patient was put up in our medihotel at Royal Perth
Hospital. She was cared for, she was able to be catered for, and she had a great
night's sleep, and the next morning she was able to drive home at the
comfort of her own pace. This is what governments do when they invest heavily
in health care. This is the reason we need a McGowan Labor government.
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