❓ A WA MP raises concerns about cancer patients in her electorate facing long travel times to new treatment centres after service reconfigurations. The Minister details transport assistance and service options available to patients.
AnsweredQoN 3819Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware that patients living in my Electorate of Midland who use the Oncology Services at Royal Perth Hospital have now been informed that they must travel to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch or Rockingham General Hospital to receive their treatment? (2) Is the Minister aware that for a patient to travel from suburbs such as Stratton, Jane Brook or Swan View using public transport to Fiona Stanley Hospital that they have to take a bus and two trains, as well as walking approximately 1.2 kilometres (from stop to stop and to the hospital) with an approximate travel time of 104 minutes one way not allowing for waiting time at stops and stations? (3) Is the Minister aware that for a patient to travel from suburbs such as Stratton, Jane Brook or Swan View using public transport to Rockingham General Hospital they have to take a bus and two trains, as well as walk almost 2 kilometres (from stop to stop and to the hospital) with an approximate travel time of 130 minutes one way not including waiting times at stops and stations? (4) Does the Minister understand the difficulties that this presents for cancer patients living in my electorate, many of whom are quite unwell, that will now have to travel to Fiona Stanley Hospital or Rockingham General Hospital to receive their treatment? (5) Will the Minister commit to ensure that public patients living in the Eastern Suburbs will have these services provided to them in the future by the new Midland privately run hospital when it opens: (a) if yes, when can people expect to be transferred to the new hospital; and (b) if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 April 2015
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
33 days
(1) With
the opening of the new Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH), oncology services have been reconfigured to ensure safe, efficient and equitable service delivery across the metropolitan area.
Patients from the local government area of Swan (including the suburbs of Stratton, Jane Brook and Swan View) previously received oncology services largely at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH). As part of the reconfiguration of services, patients already receiving oncology care have been provided a choice to remain under the care of their existing RPH consultant and move with the consultant to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at FSH. Alternatively, the patient could elect to be referred to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH).
(2-4) All newly diagnosed patients are now being referred for cancer services based on their postcode of residence. New patients from the local government area of Swan are referred to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at SCGH.
Patients are only referred to Rockingham General Hospital if they live in the local area of the Rockingham Hospital for chemotherapy.
SCGH has its own patient transport service. To be eligible for patient transport patients must reside within the catchment area (this excludes patients attending a State-wide/quaternary service) and must meet the following criteria:
·
hold a Health-Care Card;
·
be unable to use public transport as a result of their illness or disability;
·
be unable to access private transport e.g. own car, friends or relatives;
·
not qualify for community based transport; and
·
be attending a minimum of monthly appointments on an on-going basis.
The Comprehensive Cancer Centre at SCGH is a State-wide service.
Taxi vouchers have been provided in exceptional circumstances.
There are other modes of community transport services dependent upon the suburb. Local government organisations generally provide advice on area specific services. Not for profit community services provide transport across a number of metropolitan areas such as the Volunteer Task Force, People Who Care and local religious committees. Usually a small fee is charged and eligibility for these services need to be established and some advance notice given. There are also disease and patient specific services which may assist with transport, for example the Leukaemia Foundation.
Under certain circumstances patients who are required to attend FSH over a prolonged time frame for the same treatment may be eligible for subsidised parking on site. This specifically includes patients receiving cancer services. Patients must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for subsidised parking:
·
each appointment is at least three hours in duration;
·
the patient has explored all alternative transport options including family/friends who can drop off and pick up, public transport, or volunteer services;
·
the patient is required to attend multiple appointments for the same treatment over a period of up to three months; and
·
the patient must hold a valid Health Care Card or provide evidence of financial hardship. Patients who do not hold a valid Health Care Card will be referred to the Welfare Officer for financial assessment.
FSH may also, in some circumstances, be able to provide transport for discharged patients or for patients to attend other hospital services. This includes the FSH Outpatient Transport Service which provides hospital transport for patients, including patients attending cancer services, who meet the following eligibility criteria:
·
attends an outpatient service at FSH;
·
is not independent with their own transport and is unable to use public transport;
·
has no family or friends who can assist with transport;
·
is not eligible for motor vehicle accident or workers' compensation insurance;
·
is not eligible for other community transport services (e.g. Home and Community Care, Taxi Users' Subsidy Scheme);
·
does not receive a Department of Veterans' Affairs pension;
·
is a Health Care Card recipient and/or has financial limitations; and
·
is ambulant and/or can independently transfer into and out of a taxi vehicle.
(5)(a-b) Chemotherapy will be available at Midland Public Hospital for patients from the Swan local government area who are receiving care from a State Cancer Centre (SCGH or FSH) once Midland Public Hospital opens in November 2015.
the opening of the new Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH), oncology services have been reconfigured to ensure safe, efficient and equitable service delivery across the metropolitan area.
Patients from the local government area of Swan (including the suburbs of Stratton, Jane Brook and Swan View) previously received oncology services largely at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH). As part of the reconfiguration of services, patients already receiving oncology care have been provided a choice to remain under the care of their existing RPH consultant and move with the consultant to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at FSH. Alternatively, the patient could elect to be referred to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital (SCGH).
(2-4) All newly diagnosed patients are now being referred for cancer services based on their postcode of residence. New patients from the local government area of Swan are referred to the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at SCGH.
Patients are only referred to Rockingham General Hospital if they live in the local area of the Rockingham Hospital for chemotherapy.
SCGH has its own patient transport service. To be eligible for patient transport patients must reside within the catchment area (this excludes patients attending a State-wide/quaternary service) and must meet the following criteria:
·
hold a Health-Care Card;
·
be unable to use public transport as a result of their illness or disability;
·
be unable to access private transport e.g. own car, friends or relatives;
·
not qualify for community based transport; and
·
be attending a minimum of monthly appointments on an on-going basis.
The Comprehensive Cancer Centre at SCGH is a State-wide service.
Taxi vouchers have been provided in exceptional circumstances.
There are other modes of community transport services dependent upon the suburb. Local government organisations generally provide advice on area specific services. Not for profit community services provide transport across a number of metropolitan areas such as the Volunteer Task Force, People Who Care and local religious committees. Usually a small fee is charged and eligibility for these services need to be established and some advance notice given. There are also disease and patient specific services which may assist with transport, for example the Leukaemia Foundation.
Under certain circumstances patients who are required to attend FSH over a prolonged time frame for the same treatment may be eligible for subsidised parking on site. This specifically includes patients receiving cancer services. Patients must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for subsidised parking:
·
each appointment is at least three hours in duration;
·
the patient has explored all alternative transport options including family/friends who can drop off and pick up, public transport, or volunteer services;
·
the patient is required to attend multiple appointments for the same treatment over a period of up to three months; and
·
the patient must hold a valid Health Care Card or provide evidence of financial hardship. Patients who do not hold a valid Health Care Card will be referred to the Welfare Officer for financial assessment.
FSH may also, in some circumstances, be able to provide transport for discharged patients or for patients to attend other hospital services. This includes the FSH Outpatient Transport Service which provides hospital transport for patients, including patients attending cancer services, who meet the following eligibility criteria:
·
attends an outpatient service at FSH;
·
is not independent with their own transport and is unable to use public transport;
·
has no family or friends who can assist with transport;
·
is not eligible for motor vehicle accident or workers' compensation insurance;
·
is not eligible for other community transport services (e.g. Home and Community Care, Taxi Users' Subsidy Scheme);
·
does not receive a Department of Veterans' Affairs pension;
·
is a Health Care Card recipient and/or has financial limitations; and
·
is ambulant and/or can independently transfer into and out of a taxi vehicle.
(5)(a-b) Chemotherapy will be available at Midland Public Hospital for patients from the Swan local government area who are receiving care from a State Cancer Centre (SCGH or FSH) once Midland Public Hospital opens in November 2015.
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