Heath transport service launched

SPECIALIST medical care could be for more Heathcote and Bendigo residents following the introduction of a pilot service that offers door-to-door healthcare transport from Heathcote and Bendigo to Melbourne.

LINK community and transport director Dr Danny Davis said the service offered a same day-return trip for patients with appointments at major Melbourne medical hubs and specialist clinics for consultations, tests or treatments.

“Regional residents deserve equity of access to health services, yet it can be difficult to have all forms of specialist treatment available at all locations,” he said. “This can see patient outcomes suffer.”

Dr Davis said the new service was not for people seeking urgent medical care, but those who needed help getting to appointments.

“There’s a gap to fill, for more affordable, lighter forms of non-emergency, non-medical transport assistance,” he said.

Patients are collected from home, or from transit points in Bendigo and Heathcote, and they are charged $30 for a return trip.

Further assistance is available for anyone with additional requirements such as mobility aids or more complicated travel logistics.

Heathcote Health CEO Dan Douglass said the service was currently available until December and he encouraged residents to contact the transport operators if they needed help travelling to Melbourne for appointments at the designated hubs and clinics.

“The Bendigo Heathcote Medical Specialist Transport Pilot is a great initiative and needs community support during this pilot phase to prove the concept,” he said.