It is patients’ responsibility to get themselves to and from their health care appointment or hospital admission unless they satisfy one or more of the qualifying criteria.

If you are on a low income or you receive benefits such as income support, income-based job seeker’s allowance or child tax credit, you may be entitled to reclaim the cost of travelling to and from the hospital if you use public transport.

Transport funded by the NHS includes ambulance, voluntary or taxi provision for non-emergency journeys to hospital and day centres.

Transport for patients - what the NHS provides

What is the patient’s basic entitlement to transport?

• if they have a medical need or disability, they are entitled to free NHS transport to non-primary care
• if they fulfil certain means-related criteria, they are entitled to reimbursement of certain travel costs to non-primary care.

What is definitely excluded?

• provision or funding of transport to the GP surgery or other primary care
• provision of transport for the able-bodied unless emergency (though some costs may be reimbursed– see below)
• any transport for relatives or other visitors (unless patient fulfils criteria for medical escorts).

Who can escort me?

Only medical escorts will normally be allowed to travel. Family members and friends may travel if the patient falls into one of the following categories:

• is under sixteen years of age
• has significant communication difficulties, including learning difficulties, impaired sight or is hard of hearing
• has a mental health problem that prevents him/her travelling alone
• the patient’s medical condition is such that he/she requires constant supervision for safety
• the patient requires a carer to assist him/her at their destination.

What defines medical need?

If the patient meets one or more of the following criteria:

• requires continuous oxygen or intravenous support
• is unable to stand or walk more than a few steps and cannot use public transport and cannot manage in a car
• requires medical equipment or aids that cannot be accommodated by private or general public transport
• requires a stretcher
• has clearly recognised disability or illness and is genuinely unable to make the requisite journey
• treatment may debilitate the patient in such a way that they cannot be accommodated by public or private transport .

Payment of travel costs (healthcare travel costs scheme)

Under the healthcare travel costs scheme, eligibility depends on 3 conditions being met:

• patient must be receiving one of the qualifying benefits (e.g. income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, working tax credit, child tax credit, pension credit guarantee credit) or have an NHS low income scheme certificate (HC2 or HC3)
• journey must NOT be for primary medical or dental care
• a separate journey must have been made (i.e. care must not be provided on same premises and at same time as the referral is made).

To obtain an NHS low income scheme certificate, form HC1 must be completed. Forms are available from GP surgeries, hospital cashier or by contacting the NHS help with health costs department on 0300 330 1343 or 0191 279 0565 or visiting the NHS Business Services Authority website.

How do I get reimbursed?

Eligible patients attending Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust sites (Amersham, Stoke Mandeville and Wycombe) can receive reimbursement from the cashier’s office, after obtaining a form confirming their attendance from the ward or outpatient department . Reimbursement is on the basis of bus or train fare (on production of ticket) or mileage if they came by car or taxi. Mileage paid is currently 15p per mile.