"Patient Assisted Travel Scheme PATS"

The PATS office used to be accessed by patients in a public corridor between the waiting room and the ward. This caused distress for many patients with illnesses that they had to speak about in public, often when there are many people around that they know given the size of the town.

When the new outpatients centre (Coolabah Health Centre) was built PATS got a new office which was purpose built for privacy of the patients who would then come into the office. It has dual egress for staff safety as well. I believe  hospital management has now decided to put a PATS clerk back out in the public area at the main reception where there is no privacy for patients. This is inappropriate for patient privacy. In a town as small as Kununurra even going to the PATS counter shows that you are having a treatment that is not available in the town which can cause anxiety for the patient.