patient and carer travel expenses

Ugnaught

I've been trying to find a webpage for travel expenses for *both* patient and carer for an ATOS medical but can't find one.

Can anyone help?

[Deleted User]

if its for an appointment at hospital and the patient needs a carer to go with them and they recieve means tested benefits,then the hospital will pay for the cheapest form of transport(usually a bus)on the day,if a bus is out of the question you will need permission for a taxi(they will pay mileage for own car)

smileytiger

When my OH has to go for his Atos medicals - the receptionist usually provides the travel expense forms on the day & they pay the monies direct into the bank. We have to make a 42 mile round trip every time & i have to drive him as he doesn't drive & can't manage on his own to use public transport.
Hope that helps .x

MrsManda

This wasn't relevant to me because I travelled by car but the information should be in the information leaflet which came with the appointment letter. I cannot find mine at the moment but I'm sure it said that if you need someone to travel with you then you can get travel expenses for both yourself and your carer.
You may need a letter from your GP/specialist saying you need someone to travel with you but I cannot remember.

The best thing to do if it doesn't explicitly say in the information leaflet is to call them and ask.

sleepless_saver

This is the webpage but it's not very helpful. Safest thing is to do as MrsManda suggests and phone them to find out what the procedure is.

Ugnaught

I wanted to take a train so that would be two return train tickets.

rotoguys

woodbine wrote: »

if its for an appointment at hospital and the patient needs a carer to go with them and they recieve means tested benefits,then the hospital will pay for the cheapest form of transport(usually a bus)on the day,if a bus is out of the question you will need permission for a taxi(they will pay mileage for own car)

It is not up to the patient to say this. Only the hospital/consultant can authorise the need for a carer to be with him and be paid the travel costs.

Otherwise you can take the whole family with you, but only you (the patient) can claim the travel costs for yourself.

Mind you I don't know if it is possible anymore, but there used to be some scams that you told the hospital you came by car and they paid out the mileage cost. Obviously you didn't tell the hospital that you had 4 friends in the car that had already shared the petrol cost as you intended to make the visit last a few days.(normally only good if the hospital is miles away from home.

And then there was the claim for petrol costs, but you kept quiet about actually going by National Express. You used to make quite a tidy profit out of that one especially again with a hospital miles away.

I never did any of those, but was told more than once by patients that I met up with due to regular appointments at OP that those scams were prolific!!

Ugnaught

MrsManda wrote: »

This wasn't relevant to me because I travelled by car but the information should be in the information leaflet which came with the appointment letter. I cannot find mine at the moment but I'm sure it said that if you need someone to travel with you then you can get travel expenses for both yourself and your carer.
You may need a letter from your GP/specialist saying you need someone to travel with you but I cannot remember.

The best thing to do if it doesn't explicitly say in the information leaflet is to call them and ask.

Got a reply....

"Thank you for your e-mail. I am afraid that we only reimburse a customers travel expenses and not those of a companion.

I am sorry if this information was not clear and can confirm that I will bring this matter to the attention of the relevant department for their information."

I wanted to also ask if expenses includes food?

[Deleted User]

rotoguys wrote: »

It is not up to the patient to say this. Only the hospital/consultant can authorise the need for a carer to be with him and be paid the travel costs.

Otherwise you can take the whole family with you, but only you (the patient) can claim the travel costs for yourself.

Mind you I don't know if it is possible anymore, but there used to be some scams that you told the hospital you came by car and they paid out the mileage cost. Obviously you didn't tell the hospital that you had 4 friends in the car that had already shared the petrol cost as you intended to make the visit last a few days.(normally only good if the hospital is miles away from home.

And then there was the claim for petrol costs, but you kept quiet about actually going by National Express. You used to make quite a tidy profit out of that one especially again with a hospital miles away.

I never did any of those, but was told more than once by patients that I met up with due to regular appointments at OP that those scams were prolific!!

NOT true,we never had a problem getting 2 lots of fares when my wife went with me for hospital appts(we both have bus passes now so not an issue)they were more concerned with only paying for the cheapest method of transport,seeing the appt letter,and proof of benefit entitlement

Ugnaught

rotoguys wrote: »

You are joking ??

What next Bed & Breakfast???

Talk about trying it on

The leaflet says "expenses" not "travel expenses". Are there any other types of expenses?

rotoguys

Ugnaught wrote: »

The leaflet says "expenses" not "travel expenses". Are there any other types of expenses?

If you find that you can claim for anything above and beyond the cheapest means of travel please post it on here.

I am sure that people will be choosing hospitals to go to that fit in nicely with a short break, maybe a weekend in London, or a romantic getaway in the Lake District!