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More sick Queenslanders forced to travel for health care

Labor paid out $45 million in 2009-10, including $17.5m in fuel and accommodation subsidies, to patients required to travel to Brisbane and other major regional centres to receive medical treatment. LNP Shadow Health Minister Mark McArdle said the amount paid by the government under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) increased 9.5 per cent on 2008-09 costs. PTSS figures reveal that sick patients were forced to travel over 55 million kilometres by car in 2009-10 and stay in accommodation for more than 300,000 nights.  

“As there has been no increase in the woefully inadequate subsidy of 15c per kilometre for fuel and $30 a night for accommodation, the higher total costs of the subsidies simply means more people have been forced to travel and make a claim,” Mr McArdle said.  

“Bligh and Labor seem to think that the significant increase in the cost of the PTSS every year is something to crow about …far from it, it simply shows the availability of specialised medical services in rural and regional areas is deteriorating.  

“Not only is this an inconvenience to people in rural and regional areas, it impacts on residents of Brisbane by adding to waiting lists. 

“The LNP acknowledges some specialist medical services cannot be delivered outside major centres and are therefore committed to boosting the level of assistance to sick patients needing to travel. 

“It is simply ridiculous for Labor to be giving people who are sick just $30 a night towards the cost of accommodation in Brisbane or another regional centre. 

“It has been so long since Labor has increased the accommodation subsidy that in 2010 it will barely get you a bed in a dorm in a hostel.  

“The LNP strongly believe Queenslanders should not be severely financially disadvantaged when it comes to health care by virtue of their postcode.  

“The LNP will unveil the details of its reforms to the PTSS before the 2012 election, but sick Queenslanders travelling for medical care can be confident that they will receive more assistance under the LNP than they will under Labor. 

“Clearly Labor is more interested in building building up the Queensland Health bureaucracy than providing a decent level of assistance to patients needing to travel for health care”.