If you travel for treatments including in-centre Haemodialysis (HD) treatment or tests, you might be able to claim back some travel costs.
This is through two schemes:
- Renal Dialysis Self-Travel Reimbursement Scheme
- Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme
Renal Dialysis Self-Travel Reimbursement Scheme
This is if you travel for in-centre Haemodialysis (HD).
The scheme aims to help you with travel costs and offers more flexibility in your travel options. On the scheme, you can claim 45p per mile to and from your home address to your HD Unit, if you self-travel.
Self-travel means:
- driving yourself
- family, friends or carers driving you
- getting public transport or taxis
You can claim back travel costs under this scheme if you travel to and from your home for in-centre haemodialysis (HD) at:
- Sunderland Royal Hospital
- Washington Satellite Unit
- Durham Satellite Unit
You can ask for a Renal Travel Pack from your renal unit. You can ask the renal administrators or your renal nurse. Or you can email stsft.renaltravel@
Download documents to help you sign up by clicking the links below:
Healthcare travel costs scheme
This is if you or your child have been referred to us for NHS treatment or tests.
You can get help with travel costs if all 3 of these things apply to you:
- You get certain benefits or if you have a special NHS certificate that says you have a low income. Find out more about this by clicking this link.
- Your doctor or nurse sends you to a hospital or clinic for more tests or treatment.
- Your hospital visit is on a different day from when your doctor or nurse gave you the referral.
For more information on how to make a claim and more, click this link: Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme (HCTS).
Where can I find out more information?
We have answered some questions that we think you might have. Click the headers below to find these questions.
If there is anything else you need to know you can speak to your renal team or use the contact details on this page.
Why are in-centre Haemodialysis (HD) patients being offered this scheme?
NHS England says we must give travel support to patients who make their own way to in‑centre HD. This scheme helps you with your travel costs and gives you more choice in how you travel. We started this scheme on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
What does self-travel mean?
Self-travel means you get to your in-centre HD in one of these ways:
- You drive yourself to the unit
- A family member, carer or friend drives you
- You use public transport or take a taxi
How is mileage worked out and how much will I get?
We work out mileage using Google Maps. We use your home postcode and the postcode of the HD unit. We then choose the shortest route.
You will get 45p for every mile, no matter how you travel. For example, car, bus, train or taxi.
How do I start claiming?
Pick up a Renal Travel Pack from the Renal Unit, or ask for it to be emailed to you.
The pack includes:
- a Renal Dialysis Travel Reimbursement form
- an expense form
Fill in the Renal Dialysis Travel Reimbursement form and send it back. You can put it in the box on the wall in the Renal Unit Reception or email it to stsft.
Each month, you then need to fill in an expense form.
When can I start claiming?
The scheme began on Wednesday, 1 April 2026.
- If you handed in your form before this date, you can claim for any in‑centre HD journeys from 1 April 2026.
- If you handed in your form after this date, you can claim from the date you handed in your form.
If I travel by taxi or public transport, can I claim the full fare?
No. You can only claim 45p per mile. We work this out from your home postcode to the postcode of the HD unit.
If I travel to my incentre HD by patient transport, can I still claim?
No. You cannot claim for any journey where you use patient transport.
But this scheme is flexible.
If you self‑travel for some journeys and use patient transport for others, you can claim for the ones you self‑travel.
Examples:
- You use patient transport to get to HD on Monday, but you go home by yourself. You can claim for the journey home only.
- You use patient transport on Monday, but you self‑travel on Tuesday. You can claim for Tuesday but not Monday.
You can claim for any journey you self‑travel.
Can I change from patient transport to self-travel and back again?
Yes. You can choose to stop self‑travelling and use patient transport instead. You can also stop using patient transport and start self‑travelling.
How do I change from patient transport to self-travel?
When you fill in your form, tick the journeys you want to make by patient transport and the ones you will self‑travel.
If you want to change later, speak to your Renal Nurse.
If you only want to cancel patient transport on certain days, let your Renal Nurse know.
You can use a mix of both - patient transport for some journeys and self‑travel for others.
How much notice do I need to give to cancel my patient transport?
Give as much notice as you can.
You must give at least 24 hours’ notice if you want to cancel.
If you give less than 24 hours’ notice, you will not be able to claim travel costs for that journey.
How do I change from self-travel to patient transport?
Speak to your Renal Nurse. They will book patient transport for you.
If you only need patient transport on certain days, tell your Nurse.
How much notice do I need to give if I want to change to patient transport?
Give as much notice as you can.
You must give at least 24 hours’ notice if you want to change.
How will I know when my travel choices have been updated?
Your Renal Nurse will tell you when your travel options have been changed.
Can I use this scheme to get to other medical appointments?
No. This scheme is only for in‑centre HD appointments. It does not cover extra renal appointments or any other medical appointments.
What other travel support can I get?
If you get low‑income benefits, you may be able to claim travel costs through the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme (HTCS). You can use the HTCS for other medical appointments, not just HD. The rate you get per mile is lower than this scheme.
For more information, click this link: Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme
Am I entitled to this if I already claim using the Healthcare Travel Cost Scheme?
Yes. You can claim for your HD journeys on both schemes. But the most you can get is 45p per mile. You must sign up to this HD travel scheme to get the 45p rate.
The money will be sent to your bank account each month. You will not need to collect cash from the Renal Department anymore.
How do I complete my expense form?
We will give you an electronic form or a paper form. You must fill it in every month.
There is a step‑by‑step guide on the back of the form to help you.
Make sure all the information is correct so you get the right payment.
How often do I need to fill in an expense form?
You need to fill in an expense form every month. Write down all the journeys you made for your in‑centre HD from the previous month.
For example, in February you will fill in a form for all the journeys you made in January.
How many appointments can I claim for on my expense form?
You can claim for all your in‑centre HD appointments each month.
Each form can only be used for one calendar month.
When do I need to hand in my expense form?
You must hand in your form every month.
You need to hand it in no later than the 7th day of the next month.
For example, if you are claiming for January, you must hand it in by 7 February.
What should I do if I miss the deadline date for handing in my form?
Please speak to your Renal Administrators or your Renal Nurse if you miss the deadline.
They will tell you what to do.
We recommend handing it in every month to avoid delays in payment.
What happens if I go to a different unit than usual for my HD?
If you change the unit you attend for HD, tell your Renal Nurse.
They will need to update your travel information so you are paid the right amount.
If you go to a different unit for a short time or as a one‑off, write this on your expense form.
If I need any extra sessions of in-centre HD, can I claim for this?
Yes. If you self‑travel, you can claim for any extra in‑centre HD sessions you attend.
Add these extra sessions to your list of appointments on your monthly expense form.
When can I expect my payment?
You will be paid within the last 2 weeks of the month. For example, if you hand in your form on the 7th February for January’s journeys, you will be paid in the last 2 weeks of February. Please note, you won’t always be paid on the same date each month.
How will I receive my payment?
Your payment will go straight into your bank account. We will pay you using the bank details you put on your Renal Dialysis Travel Reimbursement Form.
What should I do if any of my personal details or bank details change?
Tell your Renal Unit if your personal details or bank details change. They will give you a form to fill in.
When you have completed the form, you can:
- put it in the box on the wall in the Renal Unit Reception
- hand it to your Renal Nurse
- or email it to stsft.renaltravel@nhs.net
What happens if I don’t tell the Renal Team about changes to my details?
If you do not update your details, you may not get paid or you may get the wrong amount.
If you do not tell us about changes to your travel and you are paid incorrectly, you will need to pay the money back.
We regularly check your travel information, so it is important to keep us updated.
Who can I contact if I have any other questions?
You can call 0191 565 6256 and ask for extension 47438 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm).
You can also email stsft.
