The current Labor government has abandoned people in rural and regional areas in their time of most need through a dysfunctional Patient Travel Subsidy scheme said Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett.
Mr Bennett called out the Minister for Health in State Parliament this week for ignoring the Queensland Ombudsman and their Investigation into the administration of the PTSS.
“There are people who have to travel from Agnes Water to Bundaberg multiple times a week, a round trip of almost 250 kilometres, yet they aren’t eligible for any assistance,” said Mr Bennett.
“Residents were formerly able to be subsidised for the cost of travel from their nearest hospital at Gin Gin.
“This all changed in 2015 when their nearest hospital became Bundaberg due to a reluctance on the part of the Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service to include unsealed roads in the travel calculations to the nearest hospital.
“This is bizarre in itself considering the vast number of people in the Burnett region who live on a dirt road.
“Despite four reviews or audits since 2010 of the PTSS by the Queensland Ombudsman and numerous recommendations for change, Queensland Health continues to do nothing.
“The only changes were in 2012 when the LNP doubled the PTSS allowances.
“These people are not well and the State Government is not doing anything to help them get better.
“I’m calling on the Minister for Health to take up the cause—listen to what the Ombudsman said—for all Queenslanders in all electorates.
“I’m calling on the minister, on behalf of many sick people in my electorate, to make it a priority to implement the recommendations of the Queensland Ombudsman to address the problem with the PTSS.”
21-09-2018