Question reference: S6W-16849
- Asked by: Edward Mountain, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 17 April 2023
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Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 2 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to patients who live outside the NHS Highland area and are being treated at the National Treatment Centre – Highland, what support for (a) travel costs will any such patients be entitled to, and whether any such support will extend to the patient’s family, and (b) accommodation costs will any such patients’ family members be entitled to in order to ensure that they can accompany those undergoing treatment at the facility, and, in each instance, who will cover any such costs.
Answer
Patients travelling outwith their local Health Board area for treatment at a National Treatment Centre (NTC) will be compensated for their travel expenses by their Board of Residence, in line with the process for other cross boundary patients.
Patients referred in the first instance will be expected to make their own way to the NTC. However, to ensure equity of access, where necessary - and by special arrangement between the NHS Board and the NTC - every effort should be made to support transport arrangements for patients who otherwise meet the referral criteria for treatment within an NTC facility. To support equity of access across patient groups, where NTC transport services are not available, alternative transport methods may be used (e.g. Hospital Ambulance Car Service, a volunteer service, ambulance or taxi). On all occasions the cost of transporting patients will be passed back to the purchaser (referring Board) for payment.
Patients should speak to their local health board about help with travel or accommodation costs to attend an appointment at an NTC and should follow the NHS Board travel expense policy requirements guidelines to make an expense claim.
In the specific case of NHS Grampian patients receiving treatment at NTC Highland:
Patient travel costs and the travel cost of a person accompanying them will be reimbursed. This is either at a cost per mile if they choose to drive or full reimbursement of public transport. If required by the patient, support can be provided by NHS Grampian’s Central Waiting Times Team to arrange transport on their behalf.
Accommodation is offered to the patient, and person accompanying the patient under reasonable circumstances, and would be arranged through NHS Grampian’s Central Waiting Times Team. Costs are either reimbursed to the patient or paid for directly by NHS Grampian (as is the case for Golden Jubilee Hospital).
Examples of reasonable circumstances
•if the appointment or admission time is early morning or late afternoon.
•if the patient requires an overnight or multiple nights’ stay at which point accommodation would be arranged for the person accompanying the patient.
•The patient or person accompanying them has medical conditions which would prevent travel to and back from location on same day.
If capacity at NTC Highland were to be allocated to other Boards outwith the local health board area, the responsibility for accommodation and transport would similarly fall upon the patient’s Board of Residence and be subject to that Boards’ procedures for cross-boundary patients.