Temporary PTSS increase for medical imaging
AMA Queensland has written to Queensland Health Director-General Dr David Rosengren about ongoing issues for patients needing medical imaging services, particularly for breast diagnostic imaging in regional areas across Queensland.
AMA Queensland to Queensland Health Director-General Dr David Rosengren, 5 February 2025
AMA Queensland has written to Queensland Health Director-General Dr David Rosengren with members' concerns regarding significant wait times their patients are experiencing and consequent high risk of delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes.
One of the solutions proposed by doctors is to make the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) temporarily available to patients needing radiology services sooner than the current wait times in the patient’s local area.
We believe this has merit in the short-term and have included further details in our letter.
Queensland Health Director-General Dr David Rosengren to AMA Queensland, 13 March 2025
Dr David Rosengren responded to our letter, advising that under the existing PTSS arrangements, eligible patients already receive support for travel and accommodation to access specialties including Diagnostic Radiology, Diagnostic Ultrasound and Radiology.
He also advised that:
- with clinical approval, eligible patients can also access specialist services which are not their closest should timeliness be an issue, and
- Hospital and Health Services as independent Statutory Authorities have the ability to support patient travel and accommodation arrangements that are outside of PTSS arrangements, and these decisions should be based on clinical advice and in the interest of supporting patients to access specialist services that may not be available locally.
He also commented on Queensland's PTSS conditions compared to other jurisdictions.
