House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2) 52 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Patient Assistance Transport Scheme PATIENT ASSISTANCE TRANSPORT SCHEME Dr McFETRIDGE House of Assembly Morphett PATIENT ASSISTANCE TRANSPORT SCHEME 75 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (1 June 2010) (First Session). 1.	How much funding is currently provided to the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme? 2.	How many patients have utilised the scheme since 2006 and how many are expected to utilise the service in 2010? 3.	What strategies are in place to increase this service? The Hon. J.D. HILL House of Assembly Kaurna Minister for Health and Ageing Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Minister for the Arts PATIENT ASSISTANCE TRANSPORT SCHEME The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts): I am advised: State expenditure for the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme was $9.2 million in 2010-11. The approximate number of individuals accessing the scheme were: 17,200 individuals in 2006-07, 18,500 in 2007-08, 20,400 in 2008-09, 21,400 for 2009-10, and 23,000 for 2010-11. The data system continues to be improved to capture more specific information. The Patient Assistance Transport Scheme will continue to be provided for country patients. The long term strategy for Country Health Services in South Australia is to improve health service access in country South Australia, thereby reducing the need for travelling long distances for specialist services.