Patient transport
Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (12:57): I want to take this opportunity to highlight Brendan Ralph, a 71-year-old Rosewhite man who was admitted to Northeast Health Wangaratta with stroke symptoms, only to be transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. After a two-day stay he was kicked out of hospital and told take the train home in 40-degree temperature. This is not ideal for a patient who has no way of getting transport back to the north-east. Mr Ralph spent $400 on a taxi fare, which is hard to swallow when patient transport vehicles travel the Hume Highway daily. I call on the Minister for Health to make contact with Mr Ralph for reimbursement and that she assist in returning patients to the regions.