If you require transport to attend a hospital appointment please contact the receptionist at either surgery. Most hospitals require 48 hours notice to arrange this but some London hospitals may require more notice. You are advised to contact us immediately when you know your appointment date.
At present we can organise transport to and from the following hospitals:
- Broomfield
- Great Ormond Street Hospital
- Harefield Hospital
- London chest Hospital
- Moorfields Hospital
- Royal Brompton
- St John’s Hospital
- St Michael’s Hospital
- University College London
You qualify for transport to these hospitals if: - Your condition could deteriorate with little or no warning
- You are unable to walk and/or the doctor says you cannot use public transport or a taxi
- If your treatment does not allow you to travel on public transport or taxi
- If your condition/mobility needs the presence of an ambulance person to care for you.
Barts & The London Hospital
All patients who request non-emergency patient transport to Barts or The London hospitals will need to be assessed for the service over the telephone by staff in the Barts and The London Travel Shop, a centralised assessment and booking facility, run by trained transport assessment officers. GPs and hospital clinicians are no longer required to assess patients for transport and book it on their behalf. If a patient needs help calling the Travel Shop, GPs can make this call on their behalf, but the patient must be present in order to answer the assessment questions. Please advise patients who request hospital transport to call Barts and The London Travel Shop on 020 7601 7966 for an assessment.
Hospital Travel Costs Scheme
You may be able to claim a refund of the cost of travelling to hospital or other NHS premises for NHS-funded treatment or diagnostic test prescribed by your consultant under the 'Hospital Travel Costs Scheme' (HTCS).
You are entitled to help if you or your partner, receive either
Income Support,
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance,
- Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, or
- are named on a NHS tax exemption certificate,
- qualify under the NHS low-income scheme and named on certificate HC2 or HC3.To apply for this certificate, you should complete form HC1 available from the dispensary.
You can also claim travel costs for your children or other dependents when a consultant says that they need treatment or diagnostic tests.
If your doctor says that for medical reasons you need someone to travel with you, then you can include his or her travel costs in your claim.
What form of transport can I use?
You should use the cheapest available means of transport, which in most cases will be public transport.
If you choose to travel by car instead of public transport, you will be reimbursed the estimated cost of fuel used plus unavoidable car parking charges, or the equivalent public transport costs, whichever is the lesser amount.
Some NHS trusts will reimburse you for taxi fares but many do not. You should check with the hospitals before you travel if you wish to take a taxi to your appointment.
How do I claim my refund?
You can claim your refunds in two ways:
- On the day of your appointment, from the Cashier's/Finance Office of the NHS hospital where you are treated. If you are not sure, ask reception or the Patient Advice Liaison Service staff for advice.
You must take your travel receipts, your appointment card or letter and the relevant certificate or proof that you are receiving one of the qualifying benefits.
- By post, no more than three months after your hospital appointment. Complete an HC5 claim form and include all travel receipts with your claim. The form is available from dispensary or by phoning the Department of Health publications order line 08701 555 455. Completed claim should be sent to the address indicated in the form.