At present children, cancer sufferers and old people are especially affected because they cannot afford the travel costs. Cancer sufferers take the risk rather than find the money to go for treatment. It is ridiculous to expect someone receiving chemotherapy to stay in the city and travel to and from the hospital without someone to look after him or her. The Medicare rebate does not cover some necessary medical treatment, for example, oxygen. There are problems with withdrawal of train services.
Buses are too slow, irregular and unreliable.
As services are cut it becomes increasingly inconvenient to use them and so their economic viability is questioned. The Commission met with the director of the Service, Ms Ilma Grimmett. The Service assists and supports children with disabilities under the age of 5 and their families. Ms Grimmett's principal concern was with the lack of therapists to assist these children. Government disability therapists had been removed from Bathurst and the nearest were now located in Orange.