Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which public body is responsible for providing support to cancer patients to access radiotherapy when those people live long distances from radiotherapy centres.

It is possible for patients receiving radiotherapy treatment to get a grant towards travel expenses. People on low incomes may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through the Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment schemes.

If a patient is referred to hospital or other National Health Service premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a primary care professional, they may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. Information regarding who is eligible for a refund as part of this scheme can be found at the following link:

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