Patients: Travel

(asked on 31st January 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to improve the availability of transport services for elderly patients to get to hospital appointments.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 5th February 2018

The provision of appropriate patient transport services (PTS) in line with national guidance is a matter for local National Health Service commissioners. These services are provided on the basis of medical need, regardless of location. The eligibility criteria are outlined in the document Eligibility Criteria for Patient Transport Services, which also sets out that eligible patients must reach appointments in reasonable time and in reasonable comfort, without detriment to their medical condition.

For patients who are not eligible on medical grounds for PTS, but have a low income and receive a qualifying benefit or allowance, refunds for the cost of travelling to hospitals for treatment may also be claimed under the ‘Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme’. Further details about this scheme can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/healthcosts/pages/travelcosts.aspx

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