The WA Liberal Party has pledged $68 million to the Royal Flying Doctor Service under a five-year country health plan outlined today.If elected, the Liberal Party have promised funding that would provide the RFDS with three Pilatus PC 12 aircraft and associated crews including pilots, doctors and nurses to cater for emergencies day and night.
Liberal leader Troy Buswell said in spite of four State and Commonwealth reports over the past three years indicating under-funding for patient transport, the Carpenter Government had only increased the allocation by $2 million in the 2008/09 budget, an amount which would need to be shared between the RFDS and the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme.
“In contrast, the Liberals recently committed $30 million over four years to revitalise the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme, providing country people with adequate compensation for the high costs of travel and accommodation as well as relaxing the eligibility criteria,” he said.
“This is about giving people in regional WA a fair go and helping them get medical treatment they need.”
