Patient Travel Policy

Appendix I

Key legislative and strategic drivers

A Healthier Wales 2018
Our programme for transforming and modernising planned care in Wales and reducing the waiting lists (The ‘Recovery Plan’) April 2022
The role of outpatients in transforming planned care in Wales 2023-2026
The NHS Wales Quadruple Aim
Prudent Healthcare
Planned Care Programme 5 Goals Strategy (2021) (currently under review)
National Clinical Framework
Value-based healthcare principles
Strategic Programme for Primary Care
Welsh Language Standards
The Equality Act
The 3Ps Policy: Promote, Prevent and Prepare for Planned Care (August 2023)
Guidelines for the management of RTT waiting times in Wales (April 2025)
The Future Vision for NEPT in Wales (2025)

Appendix II

Qualifying benefits and allowances

Benefits providing automatic entitlement

A table showing the benefits, eligibility criteria and entitlement covers for patients travelling to hospital
Benefit	Eligibility criteria	Entitlement covers
Income Support	All patients in receipt of Income Support are entitled to payment of NHS travel expenses through HTCS.	Recipient, partner, and any dependents for whom the recipient or partner is responsible including children and young people under 20 named in the award. Some children and young people will not be included in the IS award. These will be covered by Child Tax Credit (CTC). Escorts Where deemed medically necessary by a doctor or other health care professional involved in the provision of services to a patient, the travelling expenses of escort(s) may also be claimed as part of the patient’s cost. Where children under 16 are travelling for treatment escort costs may be paid for a parent or guardian attending the appointment with the child.
Income Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA (IB))	All patients in receipt of Income based Employment and Support Allowance	Recipient, partner, and any dependents for whom the recipient or partner is responsible including children and young people under 20 named in the award. Some children and young people will not be included in the award. These will be covered by Child Tax Credit (CTC). Escorts Where deemed medically necessary by a doctor or other health care professional involved in the provision of services to a patient, the travelling expenses of escort(s) may also be claimed as part of the patient’s cost. Where children under 16 are travelling for treatment escort costs may be paid for a parent or guardian attending the appointment with the child.
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA (IB))	All patients in receipt of Income Based Jobseekers Allowance	Recipient, partner, and any dependents for whom the recipient or partner is responsible including children and young people under 20 named in the award. If a child is no longer included, entitlement should be through Child Tax Credit (CTC). Escorts As for IS above.
Working Tax Credit (WTC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC)	Patients who are receiving or are named on an award certificate for: WTC with CTC; WTC with a disability element or a severe disability element, or CTC but is not eligible for WTC, provided that the relevant income of the person to whom the tax credit is awarded is not more than £15,276 on their award letter.	Recipient, partner, and any dependents including children and young people under 20 named in the award letter. Escorts As for IS above
Pension Credit – Guarantee Credit (PCGC)	All patients in receipt of PCGC. Pension Credit Savings Credit awarded on its own does not automatically provide entitlement through HTCS. However, patients in receipt of this benefit may qualify for full or partial payment of their travel expenses via the NHS Low Income Scheme (see below).	Recipient, partner, and dependents. Escorts As for IS above.
Universal Tax Credit	The roll-out of Universal Credit in Wales is ongoing and will replace some of the means tested benefits noted above. Universal Credit is being introduced in phases depending on where an individual lives and their personal circumstances. The earning thresholds are: A lower threshold of £435 net income per month for households with no dependent child and/or limited capability for work/disability, and A higher threshold of £935 net income per month for households with a dependent child and/or limited capability for work/disability.

Appendix III

Additional eligibility criteria

This table explains how patients can claim support for travelling to hospital.
Passport to support	Eligibility criteria	Entitlement covers
People claiming on the grounds of low income	Patients who are not in receipt of a qualifying benefit but are on a low income and whose savings are less than £16,000 (or £23,500 if in a care home)2 may be eligible for assistance with their NHS travel expenses. The calculation of a patient’s entitlement is carried out by the Prescription Pricing Division (PPD). Where patients have not yet made an NHS Low Income Scheme claim they should be provided with the following for completion and forwarding to the Prescription Pricing Division (PPD): HC1 – assessment form HC1(SC) – assessment form if the patient is in a care home or supported by a local authority because they are 16 or 17 and have recently left local authority care. HC5W(T) – refund claim form if the patient has already made a claim but has yet to receive their certificate, they need only complete and forward the HC5W(T). Patients who might not consider themselves to be on a low income should be encouraged to make a claim if their savings are below the current limits. Where successful, they will be sent a certificate showing how much they would be expected to pay for their travel per week and would be entitled to a refund of anything above this amount.	Recipient, partner and dependent children or young people under 19 whose names are shown on the notice of entitlement (known as a HC2W or HC3W certificate). Escorts Where deemed medically necessary by a doctor or other health care professional involved in the provision of services to a patient, the travelling expenses of escort(s) may also be claimed. Their costs should be added to the patient’s costs, and it is the patient’s income that will count, not the escorts.
Persons living permanently in a care home or accommodation provided by a local authority	To qualify the claimant must reside in one of the following and have satisfied the local authority that he is unable to pay for that accommodation at the standard rate or, as the case may be, the full rate: a care home; residential accommodation provided by a local authority for persons aged 18 or over who by reason of age, illness, disability, or any other circumstances are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them. residential accommodation for expectant and nursing mothers who are in need of care and attention which is not otherwise available to them.	Claimant only
Asylum seekers for whom support is provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1989	A person who is an asylum seeker for whom support is provided under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.	Recipient and any dependents where a dependent is classified as someone in the UK who is: A spouse; A child of his, or of his spouse, who is under 18 and dependent upon him.

Appendix IV

Patient information

How do I organise transport to and from hospital?

If your reason for going to hospital is not an emergency, you will normally be expected to make your own way there.

Some people are eligible for non-emergency patient transport services (NEPT). Eligibility for NHS-funded transport is defined by the Department of Health and Social Care as:

where the medical condition of the patient is such that they require the skills or support of PTS staff on/after the journey and/or where it would be detrimental to the patient’s condition or recovery if they were to travel by other means.
where the patient’s medical condition impacts on their mobility to such an extent that they would be unable to access healthcare and/or it would be detrimental to the patient’s condition or recovery to travel by other means.
recognised as a parent or guardian where children are being conveyed.

Follow this link for more information on the NEPT scheme Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) - Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust.

This service is provided by the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust.

Refunds of hospital transport costs

You may be able to claim a refund for the cost of your transport to hospital through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet three conditions:

At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS low income scheme. Follow this link for the NHS low income scheme.
You must have a referral from a healthcare professional, such as your GP, optometrist, or dentist, to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where your GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Follow this link to the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) website for more information on who is eligible, what the conditions are, and how you can access the scheme.

The following Information is available on the website:

Travelling by car

Map of hospital site car parks
Info on parking facilities and costs on HB websites to help patients make an informed decision as to how they will travel to their appointment. Include info on leaving early in case it takes a while to park??

Blue badge holders: There are strict criteria you must meet to get a blue badge. The criteria do not include having a cancer diagnosis. Follow this link to the government website to check if you qualify and to apply for a blue badge. Applications are processed in about 12 weeks.

People on a low income

If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may be able to claim for your petrol costs. To check if you qualify, follow this link to the NHS low income scheme

Follow this link to the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) website.

Travelling by public transport

Follow this link to access local bus timetables

Follow this link to the Traveline website.

You may be able to travel at discounted prices. More information on using public transport is provided below:

Table shows details for how people can travel at discounted prices
People who are 60 years old or over	You can also get train tickets at reduced prices. Follow this link to the Transport For Wales website to access information about a concessionary travel pass. Follow this link to the Transport For Wales website for more information on over-60s travel.
People with a disability	You can apply for a Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card if you are an eligible disabled person and your primary residence is in Wales. Follow this link to apply for a Disabled Person's Welsh Concessionary Travel Card If you require assistance from another person when travelling for some or all of your journeys you can apply for a companion card that provides free travel for one person accompanying you. You can get a companion card if you: Need someone to be with you at all times. Have severe cognitive and mental impairments (including people who have no awareness of risk and limited ability to plan and follow a journey). Have a combination of visual and hearing or visual and speech loss that prevents independent mobility. Have difficulties using a wheelchair independently. If you require a companion card, you will need to contact your local council. They will assess whether you meet the criteria and can then process your application.
Young travellers	16 to 25-year-olds (and some in full-time education) get 1/3 off. Follow this link for more information about a 16-25 railcard. 26-30-year-olds get 1/3 off train fare in the UK. Follow this link for more information about a 26-30 railcard. My Travel Pass entitles people aged 16 to 21 with 1/3 off their bus travel in Wales. Follow this link for more information about My Travel Pass.

If you are on a low income or certain benefits, you may be able to reclaim your travel costs. Follow this link for information about the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).