Healthcare Travel Expenses

jennybridger

my step dad who works in healthcare came home with a letter that had been sent to his work place from higher powers saying that from April (now) those on certain benefits and low incomes, and other things that i can't remember can claim travel expenses for certain appoinments.

it was for appointments that you had been refered for including dental referals. basically not primary care or primary dental care. and they worked out the cheapest method and most reasonalbe method of transprt etc etc.

i know some places do this already, but for my weekly nurse specialist appointments i go to i would now be able to claim mileage. for a 12 mile each way once a week it is certainly worth it for me.

more details can be found here on the DOH website

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083704

"This document provides information and guidance to NHS organisations on the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which replaces the current Hospital Travel Costs Scheme."

so it's not totally new, it's just slightly different i think.

sara_501

This has been going for a while, at my local hospital since at least 2002.

These figures are based on my local NHS hospital and may not reflect amounts given in other areas.

mileage allowance (11p a mile)

parking at my local hopital carpark up to £2 which is fine if you can find a space and are there for up to 2 hours.

and also return public transport - basically you show up with a return ticket and they refund it, if you only have a single ticket, they double the cost of that one and refund you that amount.

Make sure you get an attendance slip at the clinic and find out where the cashiers office is for payment.

Ensure you take along proof of benefits entitlment with you and avoid trying to claim around lunchtimes as the offices shut and you could be in for a wait or lose out.

hope this helps

Sara x

jennybridger

i just looked at the letter from DOH - it said they are "extending it".

the difference is thats its now called Healthcare travel cost scheme not Hospital travel cost scheme from 1st april.

so for me my appointment is at a community healthcare centre not a hospital. so where before i wouldn't have been able to claim as it wasn't a hospital now i can.

so there is a difference, and something new about it.

dmg24

Yes, the name has changed, but travel costs to other secondary/ acute care centres were included in the previous scheme. Think they have changed the name because of the misconception, and because of the rebranding of different care settings x

jennybridger

then why didn't they just send a letter to healthcare profesionals saying "we changed the name" !!??

According to the website:

"
The main differences between the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme and its predecessor are:

• Subject to a limited exception, patients referred by a doctor or dentist for non-primary care services under the National Health Service Act 2006 (including treatments or tests which would traditionally have been carried out in the hospital setting but are now provided elsewhere) are now eligible to have their travel expenses to receive such services paid for under the scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria;
• Road and toll charges may now be reimbursed through the scheme."

so by driving to where i go would i have been eligible before do you think?

dmg24

They definitely would have been in Nottinghamshire, I can't comment for certain on anywhere else. It would be worth asking your local PALS if you can reclaim anything?

jennybridger

i think it would get far too complicated dmg - i'd be going back over a year...

will certainly be following it from now on though

LondonDiva

only from April