❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Health on increasing the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) subsidy for regional people. The Minister responds by highlighting investments in regional hospitals to reduce the need for travel, and states he will continue to look at the PATS.
AnsweredQoN 814Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PATIENT ASSISTED TRAVEL
SCHEME
814. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Sorry, minister, that was a little bit lost in the goings-on in the chamber
just then. I note that the minister said that the government is ready to start
the investment cycle again, so can he please clarify: will the government
consider increasing the PATS subsidy to support regional people who are forced
to travel to access medical treatment away from their home; and, if so, when?
SCHEME
814. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Health:
I have a supplementary question.
Sorry, minister, that was a little bit lost in the goings-on in the chamber
just then. I note that the minister said that the government is ready to start
the investment cycle again, so can he please clarify: will the government
consider increasing the PATS subsidy to support regional people who are forced
to travel to access medical treatment away from their home; and, if so, when?
AnswerView source ↗
We will continue to look at the PATS
and I welcome any members, particularly Labor country members, to continue to
talk to me about these issues. I would welcome their —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am reminded
of the investments that we are currently making at the Kalgoorlie hospital, to
put a magnetic resonance imaging machine in that facility, saving 1 200
patients a year the trouble of having to travel to Perth. I am also reminded of
the radiotherapy bunker that we are currently installing at the Albany Health
Campus—again, another opportunity to continue to drive high-level care
for WA country patients, so they do not have to leave the communities in which
they live—as well as $11 million we have invested at Bunbury Hospital,
to continue the upgrades there. I will continue to look at the PATS to make
sure that it provides an adequate subsidy for WA patients, and WA patients can
have confidence that we, more than any other government, are investing in
country hospitals so that we save them those precious miles that they would
otherwise have to travel.
and I welcome any members, particularly Labor country members, to continue to
talk to me about these issues. I would welcome their —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am reminded
of the investments that we are currently making at the Kalgoorlie hospital, to
put a magnetic resonance imaging machine in that facility, saving 1 200
patients a year the trouble of having to travel to Perth. I am also reminded of
the radiotherapy bunker that we are currently installing at the Albany Health
Campus—again, another opportunity to continue to drive high-level care
for WA country patients, so they do not have to leave the communities in which
they live—as well as $11 million we have invested at Bunbury Hospital,
to continue the upgrades there. I will continue to look at the PATS to make
sure that it provides an adequate subsidy for WA patients, and WA patients can
have confidence that we, more than any other government, are investing in
country hospitals so that we save them those precious miles that they would
otherwise have to travel.
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