Transport to Hospital

There is a scheme which offers financial help to patients in order to help them travel to hospital, but you need for that transport will be assessed.

For patients where there are medical needs for ambulance transport the particular Trust concerned is responsible.

Help is available under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), to those patients who do not have a medical need for ambulance transport and for those who cannot meet the cost of travel to hospital.

Form HC11- Help with Health costs should be available at your GP’s surgery
It doesn’t just cover the cost of travel – it covers other aspects of health needs as well.

Tel no:-08701 555 455 or www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/07/80/85/04078085.pdf
Patients who are eligible would be those in receipt of:-

Other patients who are on a low income may be entitled to partial or full reimbursement.

There are special arrangements for War disablement pensioners. These include payment of traveling expenses, subsistence and loss of earning allowances.
Contact needs to be made with the :

Veterans Agency
Norcross,
Blackpool
FY5 3TA

You will need your war pension’s number for this.

Patients who leave hospital at their own request cannot be helped with travel costs

Visitors are not able to be helped with costs from the HTCS however they may be able to get help in the form of a community care grant from the social fund – Advice from the local Jobcentre Plus off ice should be sought.

All patients should be given details of the HTCS /local transport/ concessionary fares when they are sent appointments or admission letters. The HC1 form should be held by hospitals and people on low income should be sent the forms in ample time to be assessed by Patient Services.

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) are located in your local hospital and they should be able to help you with all your transport enquiries

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