Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has sought answers from the Labor government in relation to the closure of counter service at the Kingaroy Hospital Patient Travel Subsidy office.
Mrs Frecklington said she has taken complaints from patients who have recently attended the Patient Travel office to submit their forms, only to find it shut.
“The closure of the counter service for Patient Travel applications is unacceptable,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“We all know how important the Patient Travel Subsidy is for rural and regional people and it is obvious this Labor Government has no idea why a counter service must remain available.
“What we now have is a box where people can submit their forms. So, if there is any information missing on the forms or an error, instead of being picked up then and there by a staff member, the forms will need to be posted back to the patient and then returned again. All this wastes time and means further delays in receiving their travel and accommodation subsidies.
“Many times people have told me that the Patient Travel paperwork is often more stressful than their actual treatment, which really is saying something.
“This loss of service will mean even more unnecessary stress and that is why I have submitted a Question on Notice* this week in Parliament seeking answers about why this service has been cut,” Deb said.
