Regional Western Australians face significantly poorer health outcomes compared to their metropolitan counterparts, including limited healthcare infrastructure, chronic shortages of medical professionals, and vast distances required to access even basic services.

These systemic issues result in higher rates of chronic diseases, delayed diagnoses, and preventable hospitalisations for regional residents, further exacerbating health disparities between regional and urban populations​.

In many rural areas, patients have to travel hundreds of kilometres to access medical services, with the current subsidy provided to cover the cost of any travel and accommodation not enough to cover the actual cost to patients.

Likewise, the lack of career paramedics and advanced medical equipment in many regional sub-centres means that patients may not receive the critical, life-saving care they need during urgent or emergency transport to hospitals.

St John Ambulance services 2.5 million square kilometres in regional WA, using a team of 3200 across 160 locations.

Despite the extensive area St John Ambulance covers, the service faces significant challenges in maintaining consistent and equitable coverage across such a vast and remote region.

Many of these locations rely heavily on volunteer paramedics, who provide vital services to their communities but are often overburdened and under-resourced.

Poor communication, particularly in remote and regional areas, often delays critical decision-making and access to specialist input, significantly compromising patient outcomes in emergency and routine care situations.

The WA Liberals know improving patient safety in our regional communities requires more support and investment across the state.

Beyond improving individual health outcomes, investing in regional health services would deliver broader social and economic benefits, including reducing the financial strain on families.

Every Western Australian should have access to timely medical care, whether by telecommunications, patient transport, or travelling to nearby health hubs.

Only a WA Liberal Government will deliver it.

The WA Liberals strongly believe that addressing inequities in regional healthcare access is not only a matter of fairness but also a crucial step in strengthening the resilience and sustainability of our regional communities.

Ensuring that every Western Australian, regardless of location, has access to timely and high-quality medical care is fundamental to building a more equitable healthcare system and fostering healthier communities.

Regional residents have faced declining health outcomes for too long, due to limited patient transport options, insufficient regional infrastructure, and the significant financial burden associated with travelling long distances for medical care.

The WA Liberals are committed to implementing practical solutions to these challenges by improving emergency response capabilities, expanding patient transport services, upgrading regional infrastructure, and easing financial pressures.

A WA Liberal Government will commit $86.6 million to improve access to medical services in our regions.

For regional Western Australians travelling to medical care, we will increase the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme (PATS) from its current rate of 26 cents to 40 cents per kilometre, and increase the nightly accommodation subsidy from $110 to $150.

We will also include allied health and dental services to more effectively cover the costs associated with travelling for medical care.

We will provide funding for St John Ambulance to invest in low-orbit telecommunications for increased virtual triage and medical consultations, as well as transitioning five volunteer-based sub centres into staffed regional centres, with four additional full-time paramedics at each site.

St John will also be allocated funds for additional essential patient transfer services in the Wheatbelt, which is currently experiencing patient delays due to underinvestment by the Cook Labor Government.

Regional Western Australians deserve a government that will ensure regional communities receive the care they need to live healthier, more equitable lives.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to enhancing access to healthcare for all Western Australians, irrespective of where they live.