Save Bridlington Hospital

Patient transport services (' hospital transport/ transport')

' Do you really need ' Hospital Transport' and are you eligible?'

1. Qualifying criteria for Patient Transport Services
2. When does the patient qualify to be escorted?
3. Objectives for all Trust staff who are booking transport
4. Alternatives to Patient Transport Services

Patient Transport Services (' hospital or ambulance transport') to and from SNEY NHS Healthcare Trust are provided by Tees East & North Yorkshire NHS Ambulance Trust (TENYAS), who provide:

Non-emergency ambulances
Cars driven by drivers in uniform
One vehicle for discharge patients, which operates from 1200-2000 each day
Voluntary car drivers, who are accountable to TENYAS and are paid on the basis of mileage
In some circumstances a taxi will be provided in place of a TENYAS vehicle

So that we can provide a quality service for those who are most in need, please do not request patient transport unless it is essential (see below the criteria we use). Scarborough Trust spends over half a million pounds each year on non-emergency transport. Please do not waste journeys

Patient & Staff Information

1. Qualifying criteria for Patient Transport Services

Patients must be medically unfit to travel by any other means and
They must have no alternative means of travelling to or from hospital

NB: Elderly or infirm patients only qualify for Patient Transport Services if they meet the above criteria.

2. When does the patient qualify to be escorted?

A patient is allowed one non-medical escort only if:

The patient is a child under the age of 16 years and the escort is a parent or guardian
The patient is a dependent patient who is blind, elderly or infirm: the escort may be a relative or carers

If the patient needs medical supervision, one or more medical escorts are allowed, according to the patient's medical condition. Please do not ask for an escort to accompany you if you can manage without one (they will be taking up a place that another patient could use - and we have to pay for them too).

3. Objectives for all Trust staff who are booking transport

Staff Please

Encourage patients and their relatives to make their own transport arrangements. On admission, check with the patient who will be collecting them when they are discharged from hospital. Make a note of the name and telephone number of this relative or carers who will collect the patient.

Only when eligible:

Staff Please

Be stringent in the use of hospital transport, Patient Transport Services should be used only for those who qualify (see above for qualifying criteria). Ensure that the patient cannot go home by any other means.
Do not book more than one non-medical escort. An escort takes the place of a patient, and will be charged at the full patient-journey cost.

Use the correct procedures and book transport as early as possible

Adhere to transport booking procedures (there is a copy in every ward and department), refer to it and ensure you have all information required for booking transport
Aim for optimum planning of the discharge of patients. If the patient is eligible, book transport via the Ambulance Liaison desk, Tel (01723) 342015 as soon as you know it is required

(a) At least 24 hours before the transport is needed

(b) Out of area ambulance bookings (if a stretcher, two men, or a wheelchair is required) must be made at least 48 hours before the transport is needed

(d) Short-notice bookings: book the journey as a short-notice booking by Fax via the Bed Manager's bleep and then telephone the transport office advising them of it.

(e) ' Urgent Transfers/Discharge' (i.e. on the same day of discharge): Urgent Transfers are not to be used because staff forgot to book transport before the patient's day of discharge. Only the Bed Manager can book ' Urgent Transfer/Discharge' (see below).

Inform the transport staff, to book the most appropriate transport

Staff Please

Think about the type of transport you are booking, for example, if the patient is able to transfer from their wheelchair to a car, do not book a wheelchair ambulance.
Assist the ambulance staff by giving them as much information as possible about the patient, which will help them plan the journey without unnecessary delays.
Inform the patient that only small items of luggage will be transported

Urgent Transfer /discharges (on the day)

Staff Please Note

All bookings for Urgent Transfers must be made via the Bed Manager

Before booking, ensure that the decision to discharge the patient is final and that medications they need to take home with them are on the ward
Urgent Transfers will be sanctioned only if there is a shortage of beds across the Trust, not just on the patient's ward
The Bed Manager books all Urgent Transfers for the discharge vehicle', which is only available Mon-Fri 1200-2000. The Bed Managers will book Urgent Transfers in line with the transport procedures held in their office.

do you need to cancel your hospital transport

If you do not need the hospital transport that has been arranged for you, please let us know - it could be used for someone else. Contact the Ambulance Liaison Officers from 0830 - 1700 Tel (01723) 342015

(4) Alternatives to Patient Transport Services

Do you need help with travel costs?

If you are not eligible for transport, you may be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses if you are receiving certain benefits under the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme (Leaflet HC11). To find out if you are eligible for this assistance, ask your local Social Security Office or telephone Scarborough Trust's General Office.

Loan of money to help you use public transport to return home

You might have been brought to Accident & Emergency by ambulance or by a friend who has now left, and do not have any cash. If you are medically fit to travel home by a means other than hospital transport, we will not arrange your travel. We can however, loan you enough cash to help you get home. Ask the nursing staff, who will be more than happy to organise this for you.

patient and visitor transport - patient information

The PTS provides a vital link between patients' homes, hospitals and other treatment Centre.

The non-emergency ambulances are crewed by Ambulance Care Assistants who are trained to look after the particular needs of their patients. This service is supported by a team of Voluntary Car Service drivers.

Can I book Ambulance Transport?

Patients are unable to book their own ambulance transport. This can only be booked by your GP, hospital consultant, dentist or midwife and this is only when you have a medical need for transport. If you believe you are in need of ambulance transport to assist you in getting to a hospital appointment etc, please contact the relevant medical professional to organise one on your behalf.

For any enquiries or problems regarding already arranged ambulance transport, please contact Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance (Yorkshire Ambulance Service)Service Liaison Desk at Scarborough Hospital 08.30 - 17.00 on (01723) 342015 .

Patient Escorts

You may want a family member or friend to come with you to your hospital appointment. Unless there is a medical need for them to accompany you (this will need written verification from your GP) they will have to make their own way to the hospital and will not be able to use the PTS or claim back their travel expenses.

Claiming Back Travel Expenses

Individuals with a hospital appointment who are claiming the following benefits are entitled to make a claim in respect of their travel expenses (as detailed below): See form HC11.

Income Support
Job Seekers
HC 2 & HC 3
Disability Working Allowance
Working Family Tax credit
Pension Credit (with guaranteed credit & savings)

Public Transport Costs

Bus fares and train fares are fully reimbursed when a receipt is produced.

Petrol Costs

10p per mile is claimable from patients home address, details of the length of journey must be provided. Hospital car park receipts can be refunded too.

Local Travel Schemes

Travel costs through Dial A Ride, Ryedale Car Scheme and Whitby Good Neighbours Community Transport Scheme are fully refundable when a receipt is produced. See below for details.

Taxi Costs

Taxi fares are not reimbursed. If a receipt is produced only the equivalent public transport costs of the journey are reimbursed.

Important Information

Money can be reimbursed from the General Office at both Bridlington and Scarborough Hospitals. Claimants must produce official documentation detailing the benefits they are on as well as details of their hospital appointment.

Regular Public Transport

Scarborough and Bridlington Hospitals are both included in local bus routes and have regular buses that come directly to each site. Details of bus times can be obtained via the bus company ( http://www.eastriding.gov.uk/f-buses.html ) or timetable leaflets which are available in the Main Reception at both sites.

Local Transport Schemes

There are transport schemes locally that can assist you with access to health care and community services or to visit a relative or friend in hospital.

Dial a Ride (01723) 354434

Adapted transport for the elderly and disabled members of the community. (Contact office for fares)

Scarborough District Community Transport Scheme (01723) 369034

For people who for reasons of age, disability, locality or family circumstances have difficulty accessing public transport or have no relatives to help.
Cost 30p per mile

Ryedale Car Scheme - RYECAT LTD (01653) 698888

For residents of Ryedale with a genuine transport need.
Cost 35p per mile

Whitby Good Neighbours Community Transport Scheme (01947) 602982

For people with difficulty using public transport and wish to gain access to essential services.
Cost 40p for first 10 miles, then 35p for subsequent miles.

Ryedale Minibus (01653) 696188 am only (01904) 692550

Run by the Red Cross
Cost £25 per 4 hour session plus 30p per mile; driver provided

Travel Line 08706 082608

PATIENT ADVICE AND LIAISON SERVICE (pals)

Problems/Complaints

Should you have any problems organising transport to hospital, or wish to make a complaint regarding any transport issues you may have, you can contact PALS who will be more than happy to listen to your concerns.

Further Information

For further information about transport options available you can contact PALS:

In person during office hours at Main Reception (Scarborough and Bridlington Hospitals).

By telephone on (01723) 342434 (24 Hours service, answer machine out of office hours).

By fax on (01723) 385133

By email at [email protected]

By post:

PALS
Scarborough Hospital
Woodlands Drive
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO12 6QL

back