Rural Health Public Transport

Hansard & Papers " Legislative Assembly " 4 December 2007 " Full Day Hansard Transcript " Item 32 of 41 "
Rural Health Public Transport
About this Item
Speakers - Torbay Mr Richard
Business - Private Members Statements, PRIV

RURAL HEALTH PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Page: 4974

Mr RICHARD TORBAY (Northern Tablelands-Speaker) [6.00 p.m.]: Over the past decade many key government and private sector services have been centralised to the detriment of small and isolated rural communities. While the argument justifying that shift might make dry economic sense to some, it makes no sense at all to the people whose access to these services has been cut. Regaining and improving that access is a question of equity, and in no field is this more important than health. Some weeks ago in Glen Innes in my electorate of Northern Tablelands travel for local people who need regular chemotherapy treatment came to a head. One patient, while attempting to find out the available options, uncovered a maze of agencies, bureaucratic restrictions and confusing eligibility criteria. She could not find a central point that provided information on the range of services available and her entitlements. Misunderstandings emerged about the risks of transporting chemotherapy patients and the lack of communication between the myriad of providers and agencies.

As a result of this confusion and representations made to me, I asked Mayor Steve Toms of Glen Innes Severn Council to chair a forum on the issue on my behalf. The Ministry of Transport coordinated the organisation of the forum, which was appreciated. In attendance were more than 25 people representing about 15 agencies, including State, Federal and local government, private transport providers and community organisations. It was the first time all these groups had come together and exchanged information and views. This in itself was a valuable exercise. The main concerns were transport for renal dialysis and chemotherapy treatment and specialist transport for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Until three years ago the New South Wales Ambulance Service provided transport for renal dialysis patients, but the patients who have been diagnosed since that time are restricted to new transport criteria. No specific funding is allocated for dialysis transport. Most people rely on family and friends. Volunteer-based services cannot commit the time-three days a week a patient-or funds, as it would mean drastic cuts to other services.

The Hunter New England Area Health Service, after consultation with ambulance and transport providers and patients and their families, developed a renal transport plan and submitted it to the New South Wales Health Department in December 2006 for consideration. To date the service has received no response. The Hunter New England Health Transport Unit can coordinate transport for financially and transport disadvantaged patients who meet the Transport for Health eligibility criteria. However, there is a growing problem within the Aboriginal and wider population. Many are not diagnosed. Under the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme, patients can claim for trips to Armidale or Tamworth but not to Inverell because they need to travel more than 100 kilometres one way. Over 95 per cent of dialysis patients use their own transport, with help from family and friends. Again, chemotherapy patients have a number of options so long as they meet stringent eligibility criteria.

Transport for Health steps into the breach when no other transport is available and uses alternative resources such as hire cars, an expensive alternative. Transport for Health is available to the financially or transport disadvantaged, but its budget is limited. Little liaison takes place between agencies, with the criteria for Home and Community Care transport restricting services to the frail aged and people with disabilities and their carers. Although this service has a number of vehicles, it relies on volunteer drivers. Misunderstandings about the risk of transporting chemotherapy patients have had an impact on the number of volunteers.

Transport for Aboriginal people to access treatment outside their local area is poorly funded, with only $12,000 allocated to four local government areas. Many Aborigines do not have a drivers licence and reliance on family and friends, which assists the rest of the population, does not apply to them to the same extent. The daily CountryLink bus service leaves very early for Armidale and Tamworth and returns very late, making it a poor option for most patients, particularly those in very ill health. Time restricts me from detailing the shortage of specialists in local towns, but the shortage means extra travel to access physiotherapy and other necessary health services. It places a heavy burden on existing services and means that many people in country towns without their own transport miss out. Regional areas need a new public transport plan with better funding and coordination between all providers. The alternative is to provide specialist services, such as chemotherapy and renal dialysis, at small hospital locations. Either way, it is an issue the Government must address urgently.