Shadow Minister for Health Mark McArdle and patient advocate Justine Christerson have jointly called for the development of an App to help rural and regional Queenslanders access information about the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).
Ms Christerson said the contact she received each day from regional Queenslanders asking for advice on accommodation and costs when staying in Brisbane for medical treatment was proof the App was needed.
“The PTSS is supposed to help regional and rural Queenslanders with their accommodation costs but the information is not getting to them,” she said.
“Many rural and regional Queenslanders don’t even know the PTSS exists, where they can stay or the costs of where they can stay,” she said.
“An App is a common sense way of getting this information to patients and their families 24 hours a day, seven days a week, especially when many people in Queensland Health work five days per week.
“At a time when they are concerned about the health of their loved ones or themselves, this would at least help to ease that burden a little.”
Mr McArdle said the LNP Government had doubled the PTSS in 2012, increasing the scheme for the first time since 1987.
“The LNP acted quickly to improve affordable access to health services for rural and regional Queenslanders and it’s time the Palaszczuk Labor Government stepped up to show their support,” he said.
“You can imagine living in Cairns, Mt Isa or Cunnamulla and being told that you or a loved one must to go to Brisbane for medical treatment and could spend months away from home.
“It can be a daunting experience for these Queenslanders who don’t know Brisbane, let alone how to get to the hospital, where they can find accommodation or where to get food.
“An App doesn’t sleep and could help ease the burden and stress of travelling to access health services.”
