Rural Queenslanders are welcoming the first increase to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS) in more than 10 years, but say it does not go far enough in addressing health inequity.

The scheme provides financial assistance for patients in regional areas who have to travel to access specialist health services.

The changes include an increase to the nightly accommodation rebate from $60 to $70 per night and an increase to petrol reimbursement from 30 cents to 34c per kilometre.

The average cost of a hotel room in Brisbane, where many life-saving specialist services are available, ranges from $130 per night to upwards $250 per night for simple rooms, the latest accommodation data shows.

The Palaszczuk government pledged $70.3 million towards the scheme as part of the $1.6 billion cost-of-living relief package announced in this year's state budget.

It is the first time the rebate rate has been increased since the Labor government came to power in 2012.

"I'm grateful, because it's better than denying an increase — but let's be honest … September 2012 was the last increase, so it's been a long time between drinks," health advocate Justine Christerson said.

Ms Christerson is based in Brisbane and provides free support to rural patients travelling to the city for life-saving health treatment.

"If you are travelling to Brisbane and needed to stay for one night's accommodation, it's a $10 saving," she said.

Gregory MP and LNP member Lachlan Millar said the scheme was "seriously underfunded" and that the increase would do little to help rural patents in the long term.

"This is nothing, really — just breadcrumbs," he said.

"People in Brisbane or the east coast have easy access to services, but we're sending rural patients away with little in their pocket to cover their costs.

"They deserve better."

'It all adds up'

Based in Ilfracombe in outback Queensland, Grant Bunter has to travel more than 1,100 kilometres to Brisbane to receive treatment for his liver cancer.

He welcomed the increase to the scheme, but estimated he spent about $12,000 to travel for medical appointments in the last year.

"Any increase in assistance is great, but every appointment I attend costs me at least $300 out-of-pocket … and it all adds up," Mr Bunter said.

The PTSS covers his flights, but other expenses – including taxis to and from the airport, some accommodation costs and food – come out of his wallet.

Mr Bunter is waiting to be added to the liver transplant list after being diagnosed with the disease last year.

"Then I'm required to move to Brisbane, and basically I have to pack up enough stuff to live a life in Brisbane until the liver becomes available for me that's suitable," he said.

"It could be months, it could be a year, it could be a couple of years, and that will mean that every on a week-by-week basis, I'll have an out-of-pocket expense that's otherwise not covered by PTSS.

"I can afford this but I know other people can't.

Push for review

The Queensland government said funding for the PTSS increased from $94.8m in 2021-22 to $97.2m in 2022-23.

The Rural Doctors Association of Queensland has previously said the scheme should be reviewed yearly in line with increases in inflation.

Ms Christerson said the subsidy had helped thousands of Queenslanders, but it had failed to keep up with the cost of living.

She has launched a petition calling for a review of the scheme.

"Ultimately I would like to see the government spend $70 million on bringing health care closer to home for the country regions," Ms Christerson said.

"We hear about new hospitals popping up on [the east coast] all the time, but rural patients have to travel thousands of kilometres … so where's the priorities?"