The Government is doubling the fuel subsidy for eligible medical appointments.

Thousands of South Australians living in rural and regional areas will get significantly more financial support to travel to specialist health appointments, with the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme being increased from 16c per kilometre to 32c per kilometre.

This is the first significant increase to PATS since 2001.

PATS provides financial assistance towards transport and accommodation costs for people who need to travel more than 100km each way to attend planned specialist healthcare services that are not available locally.

Last year more than 13,000 South Australians received financial support through PATS.

More information: www.pats.sa.gov.au