Out of Area Treatment

(asked on 30th November 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 21 April 2023 to Question 180599 on Orthopaedics: Out of Area Treatment, what plans her Department has to support patients who are ineligible for (a) NHS non-emergency transport and (b) the NHS Travel Costs scheme.


Answered by
Andrew Stephenson Portrait
Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 8th December 2023

The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) and non-emergency patient transport services (NEPTS) are kept under review by the National Health Service to ensure simplified and streamlined access. The NHS continues to run these schemes in place to support eligible patients with their travel costs.

The most recent NEPTS review from August 2021 is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/urgent-emergency-care/improving-ambulance-services/nepts-review/

The most recent eligibility criteria from 31 May 2022 are available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/non-emergency-patient-transport-services-eligibility-criteria/

The NEPTS Review also identified the important role the HTCS has in supporting patients on low incomes to access NHS treatment. More information on the HTCS is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/

The Department has no plans in place at present to look at further schemes.

Reticulating Splines