In a significant move aimed at enhancing accessibility to vital healthcare services, health foundation Wishlist will launch a new Patient Transport Service connecting Gympie to Sunshine Coast public hospitals.
The $256,000 initiative is set to undergo a two-year trial period which marks a pivotal step towards addressing transportation barriers faced by a growing number of Gympie Hospital patients.
While funded by Wishlist, the service will be managed by the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) – an innovative collaboration aimed at improving access to health services for regional residents.
Wishlist CEO Lisa Rowe said her team and Sunshine Coast Health had been in discussions about a potential transport initiative for the past several years, pointing out that proceeds from the sale of Wishlist House Gympie would be directed to the potentially life-saving initiative.
“We have heard from several patients who are doing it tough at the moment that they simply would forego medical treatment because of the financial burden and stress of driving the 150km return journey from Gympie to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH),” Ms Rowe said.
“While many vital services are being extended and introduced at Gympie Hospital – it’s inevitable that locals may have to make the journey to the Sunshine Coast for specialist treatment.”
The 22-seater bus is expected to operate on a set timetable five days a week with two return journeys per day from Gympie Hospital to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Nambour General Hospital.
The free service to patients and their designated carer is expected to commence in the new financial year helping thousands of rural and remote patients.
“We understand the hardships faced by patients and their families when it comes to accessing healthcare services in regional and remote areas and we hope this service will alleviate some of the challenges by offering another transport solution to enhance outcomes for patients,” Ms Rowe adds.
“We are also very conscious of the established and highly-respected medical transport providers who currently serve the Gympie area – many run by dedicated volunteers. The need is great and our hope is to complement their valuable service and assist in getting locals to day procedures or outpatient appointments.”
Others likely to benefit from the service include patients accessing renal, radiation, chemotherapy, or haematology treatments.
Sunshine Coast Health Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies welcomed the transport for patients and their families.
“This service will make it easier for patients to access our hospitals, and we’d like to thank Wishlist for their work in starting and supporting this service,” Dr Gillies said.
Fast facts
- The Patient Transport Service will be funded by Wishlist for two years through Wishlist’s current major fundraising project – Wishlist House Gympie.
- Last financial year, patients residing in the Gympie region accounted for around 31 percent of activity provided at SCUH.
- The service aims to provide a vital link between Gympie, SCUH and Nambour hospitals.
- The service will cater exclusively to public hospital patients and their designated carer.
Wishlist House Gympie to fund transport service
For the first time in the Gympie region, Wishlist is building a charity home to be sold to support Gympie Hospital patients and families.
The four-bedroom house is currently under construction on Serenity Dr in Southside and is being built by AUSMAR and generous Gympie and Sunshine Coast tradespeople and suppliers.
The house is poised to be sold in the coming months through One Agency Gympie, with proceeds being directed to Wishlist’s Patient Transport Service.
Find out more about the project at wishlist.org.au.
