Mr Grylls said it was all well and good for the Government to have a 10-year plan for metropolitan health but this should also include a plan for health services in the regions.

“The RFDS is in crisis and this Government should be announcing a ten-year plan to adequately staff and resource the Royal Flying Doctor Service,” Mr Grylls said.

“The Labor Government’s hub and spoke health service model has all but eroded regional hospitals and health services, with more and more people forced to travel to Perth for treatment that should be available in their local community.

“The RFDS now spends more than 80 percent of its time ferrying patients to metropolitan hospitals because country hospitals can’t cope.”

Mr Grylls said the Government needs a new plan for the RFDS which would include a significant increase in operational funding and funds for new aircraft, including a new jet aircraft service.

He said while the Government has set aside $521 million for the redevelopment of Sir Charles Gardiner Hospital, $80 million for a research institute and $207 million for the initial part of the children’s hospital project, it has failed to provide any significant increase in funding to the RFDS.

“The RFDS has increased its workload by 60 per cent over the past five years and is dealing with a growing regional population, a regional doctor shortage and disintegrating health services,” Mr Grylls said.

“While Health Minister Jim McGinty may think that the RFDS is simply an ‘interest group’, those people who live and work in regional WA know how vital the service is.”