The Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) helps eligible patients with travel and accommodation costs when they need to travel for specialist care not available closer to home.

Patients eligible for PTSS may also have help with these costs for an escort or carer.

Check if you’re eligible

Answer a few questions to find out if you may be eligible for the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS). If you choose the wrong answer, you can go to the earlier question and change it.

Apply for PTSS

Apply as soon as you receive your specialist appointment letter.

Most applications are approved within 2 business days after we receive all required information. We recommend applying at least 10 business days before your appointment so there’s enough time to arrange flights and accommodation. Seats and travel options can be limited.

Your local health centre or Indigenous Liaison Officer can help you:

  • complete the application
  • check if you’re eligible for an escort.

Approval

Your local health centre will let you know if your application is approved.

Our travel team arrange your travel and accommodation, however if you choose to make your own bookings, you may be able to claim a reimbursement to the approved subsidy amount.

Your travel details

Your local health centre will give you your flights, bus or ferry times, and accommodation details.

They’ll also give you a printout of Form C [DOCX.90.5KB], you need to take to your appointment. This is your attendance appointment form.

Check-in times

Arrive:

  • 1 hour early before your flight
  • 20 minutes before your bus or ferry departs.

Accommodation

Accommodation support is only available for the time needed to travel and attend your appointment.

If you choose to stay longer for personal reasons, such as visiting family or going to non-medical activities, you must pay extra accommodation costs.

Staying with family or friends

If you have approval for PTSS accommodation and you stay with family or friends, you may be able to claim $10 per night reimbursement.

Make sure you speak with your local health centre or the travel team about how to claim this.

Escort and carers

You may be eligible to have an escort if either of the following apply.

  • you’re under 18 years old
  • you have a serious illness or disability
  • you’re too sick to travel on your own.

Role of the escort

Escorts must be 18 years or older

Your escort must:

  • stay with you for the entire trip, from when you leave and return home
  • help you during travel and appointments
  • make sure you’re on time for appointments
  • follow the rules at hotels, transport, and clinics
  • listen to the steps given to you by hospital and travel staff
  • let your clinic know if plans change

Following these rules can help you remain eligible for future escort travel.

While you’re away

Please keep your appointment, travel and accommodation details with you while you are away.

When you're ready to return home

Your treating specialist or hospital will:

  • fill in and sign your Form C confirming when you can return home.
  • send Form C to our Travel team so they can arrange or change your return travel if needed.

If your treatment, discharge date, or return date changes, tell your treating service and let the Travel team know as soon as possible. You can't assume your flights or accommodation will automatically change.

Only travel to the airport when you've received your return travel itinerary.

For help, call 07 4226 5999 and select option 1. Our Travel team is available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Claim reimbursement

Before you lodge a claim, please check the subsidy value on the Queensland Government website.

To claim reimbursement:

You must lodge your claim within 30 days of returning home.

Costs PTSS does not cover

PTSS does not pay for:

  • food and drinks
  • shopping, toiletries, entertainment
  • taxis or buses for non-medical purposes
  • lost income or wages
  • accommodation upgrades
  • travel for personal trips away from your usual home
  • extra costs for family members or other travellers.

Cancel your travel

If you can no longer travel to attend your appointment, you must contact your local health centre as soon as possible.

This allows travel and accommodation to be available to another patient.

If you cancel late or do not travel without a valid reason, you may have to pay for future travel costs.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about PTSS, please get in touch with the health workers or Indigenous Liaison Officers at your local health centre. They'll help you understand how to make sure you reach your specialist medical care.

Last updated:   September 2026

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