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"Issues after being transported interstate"

About: Kununurra Hospital / Emergency Department Patient Assisted Travel Scheme - WACHS Kimberley Royal Darwin Hospital

(as a service user),

I was required to be flown from Kununurra to Royal Darwin Hospital by the RFDS. I was having a major brain bleed, high blood pressure, medicated to the maximum, and had received by AZ vaccine. The treating Dr told my husband to pack for both of us to get on the RFDS flight.

No accommodation was available for my husband at RDH and he was required to stay at accommodation nearby for 6 weeks. 

PATS (WA) stated they sent the forms to the Social Worker, who stated they sent them back, but there is nothing on file. PATS (WA) also require that RDH complete the forms. I find this ridiculous as I was evacuated from Kununurra Hospital and the treating Dr here made the decision. In my opinion, surely evidence at the Kununurra end could be used or the form completed by them? I have the discharge summaries on hand, or they are also on my e-health record for consideration by PATS. 

It has now been a few months and I am still trying to get RDH to complete the forms and return to me. We went backwards financially quite severely during this period as neither of us had an income and any assistance from PATS would be helpful.

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Responses

Response from Keda Bond, Operations Manager, East Kimberley, WA Country Health Service 2 years ago
Keda Bond
Operations Manager, East Kimberley,
WA Country Health Service

English

Submitted on 7/07/2021 at 5:44 PM
Published on Care Opinion on 8/07/2021 at 8:49 AM


Hello hawkpm49,

My name is Keda Bond and I am the Operations Manager at Kununurra Hospital. I am really sorry to hear about your experience and the subsequent difficulties you have had.

I want to thank you for taking the time to provide us with this feedback about the difficulties over the past few months with the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS).

I recognise that the problems you have had with travel and accommodation will have affected you financially at what is already a very hard time. I have referred this to the PATS and we would like to assist you with this further.

Please contact me on 0408944305 or the Kununurra Hospital PATS office and we will assist where we are able to.

I really hope you are now on a path to recovery.

Thank you

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