Purely operational

THE Department of Health is still insisting that there has been no change to eligibility for Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) for local patients requiring dialysis sessions with the Minister for Health’s office declining to comment on the matter.

In a response to questions from this newspaper regarding the withdrawal of patient transport services by Ambulance Victoria, a media advisor to Mary-Anne Thomas, Minister for Health, stated that Ambulance Victoria has been asked to respond as it is “an operational matter.”

An email later in the week from Ms Thomas’s office claimed that the existing rules ensure Victorians who require clinical care during transportation will continue to be and those who don’t require this additional monitoring or supervision, a large range of community and statewide based options are available.

Meanwhile the local community has reacted to the news Alexandra residents who need kidney dialysis will have to find their own transport to Seymour for treatment. A later announcement from Ambulance Victoria that the service would continue as normal of at least the next two weeks has also added to the confusion.

One dialysis patient posted online that they have secured non-emergency transport adding that they hoped the service would be permanent.

In response to community concerns, Murrindindi Shire CEO, Livia Bonazzi, met with a group of citizens last week to investigate options for the impacted patients. Following the meeting council will have discussions with local health providers and the department.

For those who don’t require clinical monitoring or care during transportation to medical…

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