Temporary relocation guide

Key points

1. The Queensland Health Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) helps patients from regional and remote Queensland with a financial subsidy towards travel and accommodation costs. This includes patients who are at all stages of the transplant process, and their support person:
   • Newly referred patients
   • Patients who are undergoing a full transplant assessment
   • Patients who are on the waiting list for a transplant
   • Patients who have received a transplant and who attend transplant outpatient clinics or require hospital readmission as part of their ongoing review and management.
2. The PTSS is managed by the 16 regional Hospital and Health Services (HHS) throughout Queensland. Every resident in Queensland lives within a HHS. Therefore, patients and families need to discuss their particular situation with the Travel Officer in their HHS at their local regional hospital. The patient's local HHS Travel Office manages individual patient’s PTSS payments and travel bookings, and in some instances, accommodation bookings.
3. The PTSS accommodation payment for regional patients moving to Brisbane to await and undergo liver transplantation, is usually calculated differently from stays of less than 3 months. The subsidy provided to (PTSS eligible) pre and post - liver transplant patients is generally excellent and enables significant and fair long-term support to patients and families.
4. The PTSS does not pay any relocation costs, for example: storage of house contents or furniture removals. These costs are the patient or family’s responsibility.
5. There is a good range of accommodation in the Brisbane area suitable for pre and post-transplant stays. There is no accommodation facility specifically for liver transplant patients/ families. You can choose where to stay, based upon individual needs and preferences.
6. Patients who live within a couple of hours driving time from PAH in Brisbane do not usually need to stay in Brisbane until after their transplant. You will need to stay near to the PAH upon discharge from the PAH Transplant Unit for between about 4 to 8 weeks after their transplant. The exact time depends upon individual medical situation and post-transplant health condition.
7. Patients who live over 2 hours driving time from PAH need to temporarily move to Brisbane for the pre-transplant waiting period. You then stay in the Brisbane area for up to 12 weeks after the transplant.
8. Parking at Princess Alexandra Hospital: 5-day parking special and cost-saving information.

In this guide:

1. Key points
2. Referral for liver transplantation
3. Processes and help with costs
4. Step 1: Referral
5. Step 2: Assessment
6. Step 3: Case presentation
7. Step 4: Treatment pathways
8. Relocation and financial assistance
9. Brisbane accommodation information
10. Staying in Brisbane after discharge to home region
11. Long term care
12. Waiting times
13. Impact of relocation on patients and families

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