• Those who need a stretcher to attend hospital
• Those who are unable to walk unaided or need the assistance of ambulance personnel
• Those who are unable to get home unaided following hospital treatment
• Those who have a mental health problem, learning disability, speech, sight or hearing difficulty that prevents them from using public transport
• Those receiving dialysis or oncology treatment
• Those who think they will experience side effects as a result of medical treatment received or medical condition that prevents them using public transport

You will also be considered for hospital transport if you have no other means of transport available.

Carers

A carer will be able to accompany you if you require constant care throughout the journey, if you have communication difficulties, or is your aged under 18 years.

All other escorts will be asked to meet you at the hospital

If you feel you meet the criteria for transport you will need to telephone the Transpost Booking Centre on 0845 606 6181 at least one week before you are due to attend, but the earlier the better.  The booking centre will not take bookings more than 3 months in advance. 

The centre is open 09.00am until 05.00pm Monday to Thursday and 09.00am until 04.00pm each Friday. 

The staff will ask you a number of questions to assess your needs.  If you are eligible for transport it will be booked for you and you will receive a booking number for reference.  Please make a note of this number as you will need it if you have any queries. 

If you have been sent an urgent appointment and you cannot give a weeks notice please telephone the booking centre as soon as possible and if you are eligible the centre will do its best to arrange transport for you.

Cancelling Transport

If your appointment is changed for any reason please remember to cancel your transport by telephoning the booking centre and giving as much notice as possible.  If you do not cancel you transport it could prevent some else from using this service.

If you do not qualify for hospital transport the centre will provide you with contact numbers for the following:

• Bus Services
• Voluntary Organisations
• Rail
• Community Transport Schemes
• Dial a Ride

If you have used alternative transport you travel costs will be met if you are in receipt of:

• Income Support benefits
• Working Family tax credit
• Disabled persons tax credit or a dependant in your family receiving income based job seekers allowance

If you make your own way to the hospital and you receive any of the following you will be able to claim back some or all of your travel costs:

• Income Support Benefit
• Income based job seekers allowance
• Working tax credit or child tax credit
• Hold a HC2 or HC3

Further advice can be obtained from your Hospital General Office or your Benefits agency