"Travel for a medical procedure"

There appears to be, in my opinion, a Healthcare issue in our area that causes a lot of distress for patients in Exmouth. I have given an overview below of my recent experience and some questions below this overview which I look forward to a reply.

I live in Exmouth and I have been advised by the local doctor that I need a medical procedure. I was told that I have to travel to Carnarvon, as this is the nearest hospital, all be it 740 kms return road travel, as there is no other way to get there for patients, that is no air travel or daily bus. I have since been advised by hospital administration staff that there is no Radiologist in Carnarvon for some months and I have to travel to Karratha 1100kms, 12hour return road trip. If there is no availability in Karratha the next option is Geraldton, 1670kms, 18hour return road trip.

In my opinion, this places patients in a very difficult position and I dare say many do not attend to their medical needs because of this ‘nearest hospital’ policy. I believe there is no airline travel other than to Perth, so I feel the only option is road travel, using your own vehicle if it can make it.

I believe the patient is unable to use a bus service, as there is no bus service daily. If the bus alternative was the only means for a patient to get to any of these towns from Exmouth then I feel they would be out of pocket expenses to stay days longer in to align with the bus service. I feel this may place the patient in financial stress.

I believe the hospital administration policy expectation is for the patient to use their own vehicle or try and get someone who has a vehicle to drive the patient the 740kms or 1100kms or worse still 1670kms round trip. This road trip time takes approximately 4 or 6 or 9 hours one-way, in my opinion, dependent on which country town the patient is forced to for medical treatment. If the patient has a medical issue that is painful to sit for a long time, which is my medical issue then the patient is in unnecessary pain for many hours. My last medical trip from Exmouth to Carnarvon also resulted in hundreds of dollars flat tyre and extra out of pocket expenses to accommodate this unexpected event, my total out of pocket expenses was $700 with no health cover to cover this. I feel these extra cost events should not be something patients have to cost into their medical care and, in my opinion, may place some patients in financial hardship.

When I advised the hospital clerk that I didn't feel my vehicle could make the distance safely I was advised that I would have to find someone else with a car that could take me the 740kms round trip. I felt this was very unfair advice and alternative option I would think.

This ‘nearest hospital’ policy is fine if the patient lives in the city where everything is only a few kilometres away. I don't believe any person in the city would be required to travel 1670kms for a medical procedure.

I believe the flight from Exmouth to Perth is only 1hr 50 minutes one way, less time to be in pain and far less out of pocket expenses and travel time for patients, and probably for the health department as well.

In Perth, there is the possibility of public transport, taxi or other for city patients to travel to have medical procedures performed. However being in a remote town such as Exmouth should not make us second class citizens with expectations for our health and welfare far below people in Perth. I feel the policy should be the best care for the patient. Instead of making the patient get to the closest town when there is no reasonable transportation to do so, and the most expensive and the most difficult to get to for patients, having to use their own vehicles, if their vehicles can make the distance or expect other people to assist with road travel. I believe some people are socially isolated and don't have anyone to help them. In my opinion, they often do not attend their medical appointments because they cannot find a way to travel on these long road trips.

Q: Do you believe that this travel to nearest hospital, is a fair Policy? That is making patients travel for medical procedures to the nearest hospital which is hundreds of kilotmetres from their home, which may also be in extreme heat conditions, including safety concerns, especially if patients have to travel by car on their own. If there is a breakdown the roads are not heavily traveled and could lead to a tragedy.

Q: Can this health medical policy be changed for regional patients to be able to access medical procedures in Perth, if the nearest hospital is hundreds of kilometres from the patient’s home and only accessible by road, and there is the possibility that the patients are unable to use or travel by car? If this is a safer and less problematic option for a patient’s health and safety to be able to attend to their health needs? That is if Perth is the better option for a patient, even if the nearest town has the procedure available, but is hundreds of kilometres away and only accessible by road.

Please consider us Australians in regional WA, I believe we should be able to access medical health and procedures easily, safely and economically.