Great Southern patients will receive improved support when travelling to Perth for specialist healthcare, with the expansion the Country Patient Health Support program aimed at making medical journeys easier to navigate.
The State Government’s Country PatHS service will be rolled out across the Great Southern next month as part of a phased expansion across all seven regions in WA.
The service has supported almost 1000 patients since it began in 2023, helping people travelling from regional areas access specialist healthcare in Perth.
Already operating in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields and Mid West, the service will expand to the Great Southern before being introduced to the South West and Wheatbelt.
Country PatHS works with metropolitan and regional healthcare providers, Aboriginal organisations, accommodation providers and homelessness services to coordinate support for patients throughout their medical journey.
The service provides holistic, patient-centred and culturally safe support, with the expansion also expected to help reduce and prevent rough sleeping among people travelling for medical treatment.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the service will help support patients get the medical attention they need while living in regional areas.
“Country PatHS has successfully supported patients from regional and remote areas with complex health conditions to access metropolitan healthcare,” she said.
“The service works with healthcare providers to provide comprehensive journey coordination including assistance with accommodation and transport.
“We have a big health system and navigating it can be tricky at times. Country PatHS aims to ease that burden for some of our most in need patients.
“Almost 1000 people have already been supported by the service, and I am proud we are now able to build on that success and expand to the Wheatbelt, South West and Great Southern.”
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