Patient transport frequently asked questions

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What is NHS funded patient transport?

People travelling to NHS non-emergency healthcare are normally expected to make their own way, using their own transport or the range of public, community or voluntary transport available locally.

Some people may be eligible for NHS funded patient transport on health grounds if they meet the criteria for support or assistance on or after the journey.

Eligibility criteria are in place to ensure that those with a genuine need have access to the services they require.

A person’s eligibility for NHS funded patient transport will be assessed against medical or financial eligibility criteria. This will ensure that all people are treated fairly.

Who can use NHS funded patient transport?

People are eligible when they meet the criteria at the time of booking and the journey. This does not include social reasons for transport (such as being unable to afford a journey or not having access to a bus or car).

If you are unsure whether you qualify for support either based on your medical or financial needs, in the first instance call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211. The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am and 8pm, and 9.30am to 5pm at weekends and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day when the office is closed).

Who pays for NHS funded patient transport?

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly pays for the transport provision for any person registered with a GP in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly who:

  • has been assessed as eligible for NHS funded patient transport
  • are attending non-emergency NHS funded healthcare excluding primary dental or medical care appointments

Do people have to pay for or contribute to NHS funded patient transport?

People that are eligible will not need to pay for transport.

What are the medical criteria?

A person’s eligibility for NHS funded patient transport services will be assessed against the following nationally defined clinical eligibility criteria.

A medical condition that:

  • requires the skills or support of patient transport staff, on or after the journey, to the extent that it would be detrimental to their condition or recovery if they were to travel by any other means
  • impacts on their mobility, to such an extent that they would be unable to access healthcare, and it would be detrimental to the person’s condition or recovery to travel by any other means

How do I check my eligibility?

If you are unsure whether you qualify for support either based on your medical or financial needs, in the first instance call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211. The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am and 8pm, and 9.30am to 5pm at weekends and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day when the office is closed).

If I have been assessed once, will I always be eligible?

No, each time you make a booking their eligibility will be reassessed to take into account changing circumstances and clinical needs.

I’m attending the hospital regularly am I eligible for NHS funded patient transport?

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly has identified that people who are frequent travellers for a specific medical condition may also need access to NHS Funded transport service.

Frequent travellers are defined as those people who are required to attend hospital at least:

  • 3 times a week for a sustained course of treatment lasting a minimum of 6 weeks
  • 6 times a month for a sustained course of treatment lasting a minimum of 3 months

For more information call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211. The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am and 8pm, and 9.30am to 5pm at weekends and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day when the office is closed).

I live in a nursing home or residential home; will I automatically qualify for the patient transport service?

No, not necessarily. You will only receive NHS funded patient transport if you are individually assessed as meeting the medical eligibility criteria.

Care homes should not ask the person’s GP surgery to book transport on their behalf.

Will I automatically qualify for NHS funded patient transport if I use a wheelchair?

No, not necessarily. You will only receive NHS funded patient transport if you are individually assessed as meeting the medical eligibility criteria.

How do I book transport?

For your first appointment you should call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211. They will assess your eligibility by asking you a number of questions. For follow-up appointments and discharges, your healthcare provider will book these on your behalf through the centralised booking service.

The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am and 8pm, and 9.30am to 5pm at weekends and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day when the office is closed).

Are there any special arrangements for Isles of Scilly residents?

Yes. Under the NHS (Travel expenses and remission of charges) Regulations 2003, there are special arrangements in place for residents of the Isles of Scilly.

For Isles of Scilly residents to qualify for the patient transport service to the mainland, people must meet 3 conditions:

  1. At the time of their appointment, you must be usually resident (not temporary resident) on the Isles of Scilly.
  2. The person must have a referral from a health care professional for a specialist or to a hospital for further NHS funded treatment or tests.
  3. The person’s appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made.

For more information call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211. The service is open Monday to Friday, 8am and 8pm, and 9.30am to 5pm at weekends and bank holidays (except for Christmas Day when the office is closed).

Can I book NHS funded patient transport to go to my GP appointment?

No. The national regulations do not allow NHS funded patient transport services to take you to primary care. Such as a GP, dentist, optician or pharmacist or any appointment provided by the practice staff.

Who will decide who gets patient transport? Are they clinically trained to decide?

The centralised booking service will undertake eligibility assessments and book transport, using the same criteria each time. The service will follow protocols to check the person’s eligibility, whether they can safely use other forms of transport and any immediate circumstances which have to be taken into account. They do not base their decisions on a given diagnosis but on a person’s need for support and access to help. They will seek the advice of a clinician involved in the care where appropriate.

Can I book the patient transport service for my NHS appointments outside of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly?

Yes, provided that:

  • you are registered with a GP in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
  • have been assessed as eligible for NHS funded patient transport
  • attending non-emergency NHS funded healthcare excluding primary dental or medical care appointments

Do I qualify for help with accommodation costs?

No, the patient transport policy does not allow for discretionary payments to cover accommodation costs.

I am attending a hospital outside of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for treatment not provided locally will I automatically receive free NHS funded patient transport for my journey out of and return to Cornwall?

No. You will only receive NHS funded patient transport if you are individually assessed as meeting the medical eligibility criteria. If you are financially eligible you can reclaim the costs of travel through the healthcare travel costs scheme.

I am not eligible for NHS funded transport and I live in an isolated area and cannot access public transport, where can I get help?

There are a number of community transport services available in Cornwall to support anyone who is not eligible for NHS-funded patient transport. The person will have to pay for the cost of these services. View community transport services in Cornwall.

Can I bring someone with me on my NHS funded transport with me?

You can travel with an escort if 1 of the following applies:

  • your medical condition is such that you require constant supervision for safety (the escort must be able to meet your medical need and it should be established whether a healthcare professional would not be the preferred option)
  • mental health problems prevent you travelling alone
  • you are younger than 16 years
  • you have significant communication difficulties, including learning difficulties, impaired sight or is hard of hearing (where a person has communication difficulties the escort should be able to provide a positive benefit in ensuring they can understand anything being said to them by the ambulance crew; such as through the use of sign language where they are hard of hearing)

If you think any of the criteria apply to you, then you may be eligible to be accompanied.

Can I ask for a female only or male only crew?

In some clinical circumstances, where this is warranted, this may be possible. You or your healthcare provider will need to raise this with the booking office when booking transport.

Will I be able to insist on travelling alone, and not share with other people?

No. NHS funded patient transport vehicles are designed to carry more than 1 person at a time. However, in very limited circumstances, it may be clinically appropriate for someone to travel alone. These circumstances would include, but not be limited to, having an infectious condition or having MRSA in an open area or wound or where it would be unsafe in another way for someone to share with others.

Can I book NHS funded patient transport if I can’t afford to pay for another option?

There will be a proportion of people who will qualify on financial grounds for support with transport costs. Even if they are not eligible for NHS funded patient transport on medical grounds, via the means tested healthcare travel costs scheme.

I am in receipt of child tax credit do I qualify for some help with transport?

Not all benefits and tax credits automatically entitle people to quality for assistance under the healthcare travel costs scheme.

How will I know that transport is running late?

Your transport provider will be responsible for keeping people and/or hospital departments informed if they are running late.

How do I notify the transport provider if they I no longer need or want to travel?

As far in advance as possible, you should contact the centralised booking service to cancel the journey. Even if you make this decision on the day, it is useful to let them know. Your transport may then be used on another journey instead.

What happens if I’m not ready when the transport arrives to collect me?

From home

Because there may be other people being collected on the way, you will be asked to be ready to be picked up 2 hours before your appointment time. Should you not be ready when a vehicle arrives, the crew or driver will have to decide how long they can wait without compromising the arrangements for other people. If the crew have to move on there is no guaranteed return to pick you up later.

After your appointment or treatment

Your return journey will have been booked for a set time. If you are held up and not ready when your transport arrives, they are able to wait for a short period. If the transport cannot wait until you are ready, a new booking will need to be made.

What happens if I am unhappy or feel unfairly treated, with the decisions made by the centralised booking service? How do I appeal?

If you are unhappy with a decision, you can appeal to the centralised booking service. Call 01872 252211 and your appeal will be reviewed by a senior manager.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the appeal, you can complain formally using the NHS complaints procedures. The centralised booking service has local arrangements and procedures for investigating complaints which conform to NHS complaints procedures.

The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service provides a free and professional support service to people in England wishing to complain about the treatment or care they received under the NHS.

Is there a transport policy that I can view online?

Yes, information is available in our non-emergency NHS funded patient transport policy.

Where should I go for more information?

Call the centralised booking service on 01872 252211.

Page last reviewed: 4 April 2023

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