STEPHANIE THOMPSON
A SURVEY circulated to health transport subsidy users has a local man concerned about its motive.
A recent Patient Assistance Transport Scheme (PATS) survey asked respondents how they would be impacted if PATS offices were to close.
Pinnaroo man and PATS user Darryl Summerton said he was concerned about the future of the Berri office, located within the Riverland General Hospital.
“Local knowledge by the office staff is invaluable when you’re not sure what details to put in the claim,” he said.
“The whole way through (the survey), they have suggested that you do it online.”
PATS is a subsidy scheme funded by the State Government for those who are required to travel more than 100km each way to access health care unavailable locally.
South Australia currently has six PATS offices to assist with claims: Berri, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Port Augusta and Adelaide.
The survey states that due to COVID-19 restrictions, the PATS offices were closed for most of 2020.
“As a result of the office closures, we identified ways in which we could work differently whilst still providing good customer service over the phone and via email to our clients,” the survey states.
“We would like your feedback about office closures and whether it could be maintained into the future.”
Mr Summerton said he feared about the longevity of PATS should the Berri office – and therefore local support – cease.
“I think there is going to be a bit of upset,” he said.
“People will just give up on claiming if they can’t do it easily. Many of us older people do not like the internet.”
However, PATS program and business improvement manager Alexis Horel insisted that PATS offices would remain open.
“To help us continually improve the services we provide to consumers and the community, we are conducting a short survey which is aimed at existing PATS clients,” she said.
“We would like to hear from people about our public offices and customer service over the past 12 months, what works for them, what isn’t working and what suggestions they have for change.
“We would like to reassure the community that PATS offices remain open and patients requiring PATS can continue to access services by phone and email or by visiting the PATS website.”