Fuel costs have risen by 50 cents per litre since 2013, but patients travelling up to 300km to Queensland hospitals for treatment are still receiving the same subsidy.
Queenslanders forced to travel long distances for medical treatment are relying on government travel subsidies that have not been updated for a decade — when fuel was up to 50 cents a litre less expensive.
Patients and medical transport groups said they were about $40 out of pocket for every $100 spent on travel.Gympie Medical Transport Service director Sally Carkeet said her not-for-profit service drove patients to major hospitals between Hervey Bay and Brisbane. She believes the subsidy should increase to 80 cents per kilometre to offset increases in fuel, car maintenance and insurance costs, saying many patients cannot afford to travel.
"[Some] clients travel to have radium treatment every day for six-weeks. That money becomes a real issue," Ms Carkeet said. "People are flat-out trying to feed themselves, without worrying about how they're going to get to their next doctor's appointment, 100 kilometres away."It's a fundamental right and there should be support for that."Ms Downing has had bowel cancer and two heart surgeries, with many of her appointments scheduled at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane, or at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
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