To ask what people do if they have to travel to hospital for treatment?

[girlfriend44]

Just wondered if you need ongoing hospital treatment and you you don't have anyone who can drive you to appts and wait etc what do you do?
Can you get any patient transport or anything or help with train fares or taxis please and what is the criteria?
Family member has to go to hospital this week and is having to get taxi which is costing £70 return.
If treatment is needed ongoing what are the options.

Think it varies by trust, but yes there is a patient transport service. There's certain criteria you need to meet, and it can sometimes be a communal mini bus so you may arrive much earlier than the appointment start time and return later. Bus not an option at all?

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

Hospital transport is available for those who meet the criteria but it can take hours so not always ideal.

Some charities also run subsidised medical travel schemes. Think the royal voluntary service does one!

I think most hospitals run patient transport which you have to book - they use volunteers who drive round and pick up more than one person so you often have to go early and come back late so everyone can attend their appointment. Some towns have local charities that help with things like this but you do have to pay as well. Try putting something out on local social media to see if anyone can help.

Assuming you're in UK, Google help with hospital transport costs and it should flag up an NHS link which lists the various benefits you should be in receipt of to enable your family member to claim.
If it is on-going regular treatment eg. Dialysis, patient can speak to staff about hospital transport.

Depends on your family members' current circumstances, can you or them call the hospital's PALS department as they are likely to be able to tell you what your hospital's provisions are. They may be eligible for free patient transport, or to use the volunteer driver service which you pay for but a fraction of the cost of a taxi.

They may also advise on claiming travel expenses but it really depends on age, health conditions and whether they claim any benefits etc.

Sorry I can't be more specific but provisions differ from trust to trust. Hope something can be sorted x

I used to get patient Transport if dh was working/looking after children, check with your hospital they will have some numbers, something the RVS sent lovely retirees in their cars other times it was a patient Transport ambulance.

Thanks everyone will look into those options and transport links etc.

As pp have said re hospital transport. There is also normally local volunteers offering transport for fuel costs. Depending on how old the person is needing the transport age uk may be able to help

I’m on dialysis and get hospital transport - in my trust it is contracted out to a couple of private specialist patient transport companies. As PP have said, it may vary from trust to trust and the timing may involve some waiting either before or after treatment (or both) as the services have to work in a cost-efficient way but it does exist and it’s free of charge.
Does the appointment letter give a number to ring or could you ring the relevant department to discuss arrangements?

DH used to get an ambulance there and back as I couldn't get him in the car with a broken leg, it was organised through the hospital.

I've always had to fork out for a taxi, but hopefully you can get something sorted OP

My Dad does voluntary driving taking people to & from medical appointments.

I think passengers pay a few pounds if they can afford it, but nothing near taxi rates.

Google Voluntary car scheme & your area.

To add to what others have said, you can also get the cost of the transport reimbursed but you'd have to pay the fare first. Then go to the hospital general desk/reception with your proof of fare and ask to be reimbursed.

I think you'd need to be on certain benefits to qualify but call the hospital first to ask.

Here's the link to the NHS travel costs reimbursement scheme.

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

Your GP surgery might know of local volunteer drivers that can help.

Have you contacted the hospital where your family member needs to attend to ask them what help is available? I can’t imagine the NHS will fund public transport for patients to get to appointments. There is usually a patient transport service available, you would need to contact the hospital to find out how/if you can access this. There is also a volunteer driver service - I believe patients who use this are asked to contribute towards petrol costs (but I might be wrong)

My sister organised it for my dad recently she just phoned the place his appointment was and they organised it for her.

For him,