Hotline to deal with complaints about PAT scheme to be set up

12/8/95

A special toll-free phone line will be established from next week to handle complaints about Patients Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS).

Health Minister Graham Kierath also said a person with authority to investigate and review claims would be given responsibility to assist patients and managers to resolve disputes.

"The 1 800 670 550 number, which will be staffed from 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday will commence operations on Tuesday," Mr Kierath said.

"The 1 800 line will give PATS patients another avenue to seek help if they consider they have not received fair treatment under changes to the scheme.  The new number will be widely advertised throughout the State.

"We have also requested that with individual cases, local managers try to be more flexible when considering special circumstances for patients.

"I will be encouraging all local managers to look at each case on its merits and to use the waiver which has been put at their discretion regarding the $25 contribution from health card holders," Mr Kierath said.

"We will also be reviewing the progress of the changes at the end of September.

"The Government has received a number of suggestions about areas which can be improved and these will be considered at the time of the review."

The Minister said he believed that many PATS patients and their families would be happier with the scheme as a stream of specialist services were introduced to a number of country areas.

New services that had either been, or were about to be established included:

·       chemotherapy services in Geraldton, Northam and Mandurah;

·       paediatric and plastic surgery in Kalgoorlie;

·       plans were well advanced for the visiting surgical service into towns such as Katanning, Merredin, Esperance and Wagin;

·       ear nose and throat specialists at Geraldton, Narrogin and Merredin;

·       orthopaedics at Narrogin and Busselton;

·       gastroenterology at Carnarvon;

·       ophthalmology at Geraldton, Narrogin and Merredin; and

·       neurologists service in Albany.

"These services are being provided through savings from the PATS scheme - we are doing exactly what we said we would do, which is bringing the services to rural and remote Western Australians rather than them having to go to the service," Mr Kierath said.

In addition to the extra services from PATS savings, the Government had also announced a redistribution of $3 million from metropolitan to country areas in 1995-96 which would also be used to increase access to specialist services and improve rural health services.

Media contact:  Brian Coulter (09) 222 9595 / 481 2133