Current e-Petitions for the Legislative Council

Patient Assisted Travel Scheme

Eligibility : Residents of Western Australia Only

To the President and Members of the Legislative Council of the Parliament of Western Australia in Parliament assembled. We the undersigned ...

call on the State Government to ensure the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) meets the needs and expectations of regional WA residents, who are the backbone of our state and its economy, and who deserve equity in access to healthcare.
We therefore call on the Legislative Council to consider measures to improve PATS for regional residents including:
1. Increasing fuel subsidies for private vehicle use to reflect the contemporary costs of operating a motor vehicle in our regions;
2. Increasing the accommodation subsidy to better reflect the high cost of accessing accommodation while seeking treatment in Perth and in other major centres;
3. Providing taxi vouchers to allow patients to get to and from medical appointments whilst away from home for treatment;
4. Recognising the impact of delays in processing approvals and reimbursements for patients, including pensioners, and implementing measures to improve processing timeframes;
5. Expanding PATs to include dental and allied health services;
6. Expanding the definition of patient escorts and carers, and providing greater assistance and eligibility for patient escorts with particular regard to patients travelling for childbirth; patients from remote Aboriginal communities; patients who are aged or disabled; and patients undergoing treatment such as cancer and dialysis.

And your petitioners as in duty bound, will ever pray.