Long drive for health with few affordable transport options on track
Shire roads
Many sick people who cannot get treatment for ailments such as cancer in Douglas Shire are having to drive themselves to Cairns because they cannot afford transport costs or successfully organise alternative travel arrangements in time.
Several patients have told their stories to Newsport of having to regularly do the more-than-an-hour drive because there are no other viable options for them.
Pensioner Cheryl Dahlberg said she has been driving herself to Cairns for cancer treatment.
“I’ve got no other way of getting there,” Ms Dahlberg said.
“The transport’s absolutely ridiculous.”
She says she also has to put her dog Pookie into Paws and Claws animal shelter if she is required to stay overnight.
“It’s costing me a fricking fortune,” she said.
“I’m a pensioner, I can’t afford it.”
Ms Dahlberg said she has to know her appointment time about 10 days ahead of time in order to take advantage of the Cairns Hospital’s Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, which is designed to help out patients who need to travel more than 50km for treatment.
The PTSS provides financial assistance towards the cost of travel and accommodation when specialist care is not available locally, with applications typically reviewed within five working days.
Patients are either provided with a private car subsidy, or a bus transfer is booked for them and an accommodation subsidy is available if clinically required.
Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the organisation understood the challenge for patients and their families when they needed to travel for chemotherapy treatment.
“A clinical services plan and model of care are in progress for cancer and haematology services across the region, which considers the projected demand for services into the future and the potential viability of services in locations such as Mossman,” Ms Singh said.
“Our priority is to make care as safe and accessible as possible, which is why we provide virtual care through telehealth for follow up appointments and cancer-care coordination, so that patients receive high-quality treatment and follow-up closer to home wherever possible.”
Public transport campaigner David Haratsis said he has heard from quite a few people about having to get private travel to get to medical services in Cairns.
“Also, if you go to the emergency department at Mossman Hospital, there is a sign on the wall advising that patients have to organise their own transport from the hospital back home,” Mr Haratsis said.
“If you cannot, you are up for at least a $50 cab fare if you live in Port Douglas.”
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