• A Mettam Liberal Government will increase PATS to $0.40/km and nightly accommodation allowance to $150/night

• Equip St John Ambulance sub-centres with high-speed internet connections through low-orbit satellites, while professionalising key ambulance sub-centres

• Improve patient transport in the Wheatbelt.

The WA Liberals today announced a comprehensive suite of policies to help close the healthcare gap between regional West Australians and those living in the city.

Initiatives include:

• Increasing Patient Assistance Travel Scheme (PATS) payments to $0.40/km at a cost of $34 million over four years;

• Increasing the overnight accommodation allowance to $150/night at a cost of $26 million over four years;

• Enhanced communication for St John Ambulance at a cost of $15 million;

• More career paramedics in regional WA at a cost of $10 million; and

• Providing additional essential patient transport in the Wheatbelt at a cost of $2 million.

“Regional West Australians face significantly poorer health outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts,” WA Liberal Leader and Shadow Minister for Health Libby Mettam said.

“Long distances, limited access to healthcare facilities, specialist services and diagnostic services exacerbates the disparity, leaving regional patients with delayed diagnoses and untreated conditions.

“Higher rates of chronic disease, preventable hospitalisations and premature mortality underscore the urgent need for more action.

“We have already committed to enhancing regional health infrastructure through our Regional Health Development Initiative, and now we are proud to announce our plan to improve health services.”

The WA Liberals will increase the PATS rate from $0.26/km to $0.40/km, increase the nightly accommodation subsidy from $110 to $150, and expand the scope of PATS to include allied health and dental services.

“PATS plays a critical role in ensuring regional and remote West Australians can access essential healthcare services,” Ms Mettam said.

“Despite WA living through the biggest boom on record, WA Labor have continued to subject sick west Australians to financial and logistical barriers when travelling for medical care.

“When there is a blank cheque for METRONET, the Government shouldn’t be short-changing some of the sickest West Australians with one of the lowest assistance rates in the country, which they’ve only promised to increase on the eve of an election.

“We will further reduce the financial strain on families by streamlining the PATS reimbursement process to guarantee claims are paid within 10 days.”

Heather Reid, WA Liberal Candidate for Bunbury, welcomed the changes to the PATS scheme, saying it would benefit regional patients.

“These reforms are about more than healthcare – they’re about fairness, equity, and strengthening the bonds between regional and metropolitan communities,” Ms Reid said.

“Increasing the rate of PATS as well as the nightly accommodation subsidy will go a long way to recognising the costs borne by regional people when it comes to travelling to access healthcare services.”

In addition, the WA Liberals will invest $15 million for St John Ambulance sub-centres to invest in low-orbit telecommunications, representing a transformative step forward for regional healthcare in Western Australia.

“St John Ambulance covers around a third of the Australian landmass, and their teams travel two million kilometres each year – there is no ambulance service in the world that serves a bigger area,” Ms Mettam said.

“Low-orbit satellite technology, like Starlink, provides reliable, high-speed internet connections in even the most remote parts of WA.

“Equipping ambulance sub-centres with this technology will give regional WA real-time communication capabilities which overcomes the limits of traditional infrastructure, enhancing the efficiency of emergency service responses and unlocking the opportunity for innovative healthcare solutions.

“Solutions like virtual triage through advanced telecommunication technology for regional patients and could allow paramedics real-time video communication in emergency situations, improving patient outcomes.”

David Bolt, WA Liberal Candidate for Murray-Wellington welcomed the commitment for enhanced communication capabilities for St John Ambulance.

“This is a gamechanger for regional communities,” Mr Bolt said.

“Having spent so much time on the road, traditional connectivity can be a real issue, and that can have a serious impact on patient outcomes.

“Having access to high-speed internet will make a significant difference to connectivity for regional patients and improve outcomes.”

A Mettam Liberal Government will also transition St John Ambulance volunteer-run sub-centres into regional centres, staffed by career paramedics and volunteers.

“Transitioning volunteer-run sub-centres to regional centres is a significant step in enhancing healthcare in WA’s regional and remote areas,” Ms Mettam said.

“Volunteer-run sub-centres have long been the backbone of emergency services in rural communities, but they often face challenges maintaining consistent coverage and providing advanced care.

“This funding will support the transformation of these centres into regional hubs, ensuring a higher level of service and greater reliability for the communities they serve.

“Career paramedics bring a wealth of experience, which means they can handle far more complex medical emergencies and provide advanced pre-hospital care.”

Wade de Campo, WA Liberal for Warren-Blackwood, which encompasses Manjimup and Denmark, said regional centres would have a huge impact for regional patients.

“Volunteers will always have a role to play in regional ambulance services, but having fulltime, career paramedics is a huge win for regional communities,” he said.

“It’ll mean communities, like those in Manjimup and Denmark, can have greater confidence in the availability and quality of emergency medical services.”

A Mettam Liberal Government will also improve patient transport in the Wheatbelt by investing to allow St John Ambulance to provide essential patient transport services.

“Too often, Wheatbelt communities are relying on volunteer-run ambulances or private vehicles for emergency and routine medical transport,” Ms Mettam said.

“Reliable patient transport is not a luxury, it is a necessity, which is why we will deliver it.

“Our Building a Better Future blueprint highlights our commitment to Restoring Regional Services – but we’re determined to make them better than ever.

“Our investment is about improving patient outcomes by strengthening PATS, modernising St John Ambulance, professionalising regional emergency services and enhancing access to healthcare for all West Australians, irrespective of where they live.”