New 'Rural and Remote' Group - Join up if you live away from major cities

arpie

I've just found the new 'Rural and Remote' Group - and have requested to join. (Currently awaiting approval.)

Hopefully we'll be able to help each other & chat about the additional challenges we face during our breast cancer treatment, especially in terms of accessing treatment facilities and services - or just sharing tips on what has 'worked for you' & may work for others.

https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/group/28-rural-and-remote

wendy55

hi@arpie,
i hope i have done it correctly but i have just asked to join this group as well,

wendy55

jennyss

@arpie and @wendy55,
How did you find this group? I can't see it in the 'Groups' list on the RH side of this page. Also I'm wondering what is the definition of 'rural and remote' for this group? I do see the link you have posted Arpie, thank you.

arpie

Hi @jennyss - I actually found it by pure luck!  I hadn't noticed any announcement of it on the blog.

I am guessing that anyone can join who has to travel anywhere from an hour plus from home, to access reliable, big city Hospitals, Doctors and services .... Most city people have multiple choices of these things and would expect to travel no more than 1/2hr to access them - rural & remote people don't have that luxury.  So if you have to travel .... sign up.

I can recall suggesting a Remote & Rural Group a while back in one of the posts I replied to & had tagged Mez .... so well done Mez!  She did it!!    God knows I'd never remember where to find the post again!  LOL

How I found it - I am a member of a couple of groups, so now & then I just click on the 'Group' sign in the just under your 'name' (rather than clicking on the list on the right of the posts) as you can then see if there have been any 'new posts' in your groups more easily as I don't seem to get notification of new posts (unless I miss them somehow!)

Then, I just scrolled down the page a bit further & there it was!!  @Mez_BCNA - could the Remote & Rural group be added to the 'group list' on the right hand side of the Discussions Page, please?  Thanks.

I think we'll get a lot of tips, support & help in the group - and terrific that all that info will be in the one spot - even tho it may relate to slightly different rules within each state.  Most should have 'similar options' available to their remote/rural patients.  

We are definitely disadvantaged thru time & travel and choice of surgeons/Onc/Procedures & even hospitals that are 'up to' the high standards that we expect of our treatment ....

I know that I wasn't made aware of any of the Patient Subsidies that were available re travel & accommodation, going back 12+ years - these are the highest expenses when you have to keep going back to the big cities/towns for essential checkups & procedures ..... and when I DID finally lodge my first claim back in 2011 for all the travel/accommodation re my husband's initial surgery in 2010 ..... it was declined as I'd lodged it late!  grrr.  Now lodgements have been extended to 2 years, so it would have been accepted, if done now.  The previous 12 months had been a whirlwind of travel, surgery, chemo & checkups & it wasn't easy getting all the required signatures either - and to be totally honest, I wasn't up to it mentally, either!   grrr 

So my first tip would be not to put off lodging for subsidies!

jennyss

Thanks @arpie; I've just had a look under the 'groups' heading in the pale blue banner at the top of the page. There are a lot of groups for specialised needs. I counted 18 groups in total. Have a look everybody, and spread the word. 

wendy55

helloo @iharris@bcna, did you receive my message about joining this group? if you didnt get it mez@bcna could you help out,

wendy55

Mez_BCNA

Hi @wendy55, I will send you an invite. I have another member who had trouble joining too.

Apologies I did only mention the new group in my Friday update, however I have asked the Policy & Advocacy team to provide a little more context and information for new group members as well (stay tuned ). @arpie I'll get onto putting this group on the right-hand side of the main page for everyone to access easier.

June1952

Thanks Mez.  I don't know what you did but that made it easy.

arpie

We now have the links up for EVERY STATE - Patient Travel and Accommodation Subsidy - to put some $$ back into YOUR pocket, instead of having additional massive "out of pocket" expenses just because you don't live in a big city.

(In NSW) if you've had to travel in excess of 100k One Way trip (or 200k a week on multiple trips) you have 2 years to put in your request for the subsidy.  If you had to stay overnight, make sure you keep a copy of all receipts/dates & if you have a carer with you - you can claim for a portion of your own and their accommodation as well!

Join the group - check out if YOU are eligible for reimbursement of travel/accommodation costs, no matter WHAT state you live in ..... even tho it is a pain in butt to fill in the paperwork (I am sure they rely on this - so people GIVE UP) .... but DO IT!!  It is your RIGHT!