TRAVEL TO A HOSPITAL APPOINTMENT
The organisations below may be able to help with transport to and from hospital appointments:
1. North East Ambulance Services (NEAS)
The PTS (patient transport service) is run by the North East Ambulance Service and provides pre-planned non-emergency transport for patients who have a medical condition that would prevent them from travelling to a treatment centre by any other means, or who require the skills of an ambulance care assistant during the journey. Patients in Sunderland/Wearside and South Tyneside should contact Patient Transport Services contact centre on 0191 2151515 to make or amend a booking. This line is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 6pm
To cancel a booking
If you need to cancel an appointment for the next working day call 0300 111 0247.
If the cancellation is for a booking after the next working day, please call 0191 215 1515.
2. Help to Health (Volunteer Patient Transport)
Provide a door to door service for patient whose medical condition impacts on their mobility to such an extent that they would be unable to access healthcare and/or it would be detrimental to their health or recovery to travel by other means. You will be asked some questions when you call to make sure you are eligible. The cost is 50p/mile up to a maximum of £10 plus any car parking fees or expenses incurred (to cover the volunteer driver's expenses). Call 0300 330 9424 Mon - Fri (except Bank Holidays) 8:30 - 5:30.
3. Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care
Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care – Transporting cancer patients to hospital, free of charge.
Provide transportation to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care for outpatient radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment in specially adapted vehicles. The service is free of charge but patients need to be referred to the service by the Northern Centre for Cancer Care. The service does not take direct referrals.
Claiming for hospital transport costs
You may be able to claim for the cost of transport to hospital through the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) if you're referred for specialist NHS treatment or tests. Read more about the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), including who's eligible,
what the conditions are and how to make a claim.
