Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the amount patients can claim under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme.

The Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) provides financial assistance to eligible patients, namely those in receipt of a qualifying benefit or through the NHS Low Income Scheme, who require assistance with travel costs incurred in travelling to receive certain services within the National Health Service. The scheme is not for patients who have a medical need for transport and their journey must meet certain criteria, for example, it must not be for primary medical or primary dental care services. Eligible patients are reimbursed in part or in full, depending upon their entitlement. The National Health Service (Travel Expenses and Remission of Charges) Regulations 2003, as amended, that provide for the HTCS state that NHS travel expenses to be reimbursed must be calculated by reference to the cost of the cheapest means of transport that is reasonable, having regard to the patient’s relevant circumstances, for example, age, medical condition and any other relevant factor.

Further information can be found at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/