Rural patients skipping vital city medical appointments due to costs

The first change to Queensland’s patient travel subsidy scheme since the Newman era has been branded out of touch amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Adding just $10 to the state’s patient travel subsidy scheme – the first increase in 11 years – has been labelled out of touch amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman announced a $10 increase in accommodation rates per person per night, from $60 to $70.

It’s the first increase to the scheme since 2012, when then premier Campbell Newman boosted the subsidy from $30 per night to $60.

Breaking Down the Barriers for Rural Patients support group head Justine Christerson said: “In today’s world, $10 a night is a joke. Many patients are forced to miss vital medical appointments in the city as they simply can’t afford the trip.

“Unfortunately, increases to cost of living have seen many motels put up their prices and they will continue to increase their prices making the $10 increase ineffective.

“This won’t be of any help to those who just can’t afford to be sick.”

From July this year, mileage rates increased 13 per cent – from 30c a kilometre to 34c a kilometre.

The LNP rise in 2012 was from 15c to 30c, when petrol was under 145c per litre.

This week petrol prices in Queensland reached a record high of 237.9c per litre.

“Many patients are required to pay for the first four nights in a financial year before they can claim any subsidy so first time patients who need to travel are struggling,” Ms Christerson said.

Announcing the subsidy increase, Ms Fentiman said that the government has provided more than $900m in travel and accommodation subsidies over the past 10 financial years.

Queensland Health spent $84.24m or an average of $230,000 per day, supporting patients who needed to travel for essential specialist healthcare last financial year.

“Any health system that proudly announces they spend $240,000 a day so that patients have to leave home to access health care needs to look at where they are putting their money,” Ms Christerson said.

“The subsidy is to assist with travel and accommodation expenses for those who are unable to access the health care services they require locally, the subsidy should not be a reason that patients do not obtain the health care they require and sadly there are too many who have cancelled their travel due to the cost of travel and accommodation.”