Changes to the Way you Request Hospital Transport
From Monday 8 th October 2007 your GP Surgery will no longer book hospital transport for you.
This is happening across the country due to changes to the GP national contract.
From the 8 th October 2007, Hospital Transport should be booked by ringing the Hospital Transport Booking Centre on
0845 840 1234
Hospital Transport Services are provided to help patients get to, and from, their hospital or clinic appointment. Patients will be asked questions to make sure that the right kind of transport for their needs is arranged.
1. Hospital Transport is for people with medical needs
If you can answer ‘yes' to any of the following questions then free Hospital Transport can be arranged for you:
• Do you need a stretcher for the journey?
• Do you require oxygen or other medical gases for the journey?
• Do you need to travel in a wheelchair (but you do not have a specially adapted vehicle or are unable to use the vehicle for that journey)?
• Are you receiving regular dialysis or cancer treatment?
• Do you need continual support when walking, for example using a walking frame or needing a carer to help you?
• Do you have a mental health problem, learning disability, speech, sight or hearing difficulty, which prevents you from using public transport?
• Will you experience side effects as a result of your medical treatment or condition, which prevent you from using public transport?
A carer will be able to go with you on Hospital transport if:
• you require constant care throughout the journey, or
• you have severe communication difficulties, or
• you have a mental health condition that makes it unsuitable for you to travel unaccompanied, or
• you need support for a first referral, or
• you are receiving dialysis or cancer treatment, or
• you are aged under 18.
All other escorts will be asked to meet you at the Hospital.
If you do not qualify for hospital transport and you need to make your own way to hospital, the Contact Centre can provide you with contact numbers for the following:
? bus services
? voluntary organisations
? rail
? community transport schemes
? Dial-a-Ride
4. Travel Expenses
If you do not qualify for Hospital Transport on medical grounds and use alternative transport your travel costs will be met if you are in receipt of:
? Income Support Benefit
? Working Families Tax Credit
? Disabled Person's Tax Credit or a dependant in a family receiving Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance.
If you make your own way to the hospital and you receive any of the following, you will be able to claim back some or all of your travel costs:
? Income Support Benefit
? Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance
? Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
? Hold a HC2 or HC3
Further advice can be obtained from your hospital general office or the Benefits Agency.
5. How Do I Apply For Transport?
If you answered yes to at least one question in part 1 you (or someone who is able to answer the questions in part 1 for you) will need to telephone the Contact Centre on
0845 840 1234 at least 48 hours before your appointment, but the earlier the better.
The Contact Centre will not take bookings more than 3 months in advance. A reminder of the Contact Centre number should be sent to you with your hospital letter.
Before you ring please have a pen and paper ready to write down any information – you will be asked for the following information:
• address (including your postcode)
• telephone number
• name of Hospital/clinic/treatment centre and department you will be attending
• date and time of your appointment
If you are eligible for transport, it will be booked for you.
The Contact Centre is run on behalf of Ceredigion Local Health Board by Powys Local Health Board and is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 5.00pm Friday excluding public holidays.
Canceling Transport
If your appointment is changed for any reason, please remember to cancel your transport by ringing the Contact Centre, giving as much notice as possible. If you do not cancel your transport you could prevent someone else from receiving transport.
This and other health care information is also available on the LHB website: w w w.ceredigionlhb.wales.nhs.uk
If you would like a copy of this leaflet in large print or another format please contact Ceredigion Local Health Board.