travel expenses nhs scotland

Financial assistance with patient travel

On this page.

Arrange travel to and from hospital with your local Patient Travel department.

Contact Patient Travel

NHS Highland can book air, ferry, and rail travel. All your specific travel needs should be discussed with NHS Highland’s Patient Travel Department .

It would be appreciated if you could make your travel needs known to us in advance, as transport provider staff cannot anticipate or deal with problems if they have not been informed.

NHS Highland covers the Council areas of Argyll and Bute, and Highland . To book transport or for further information on your travel requirements, please contact your local Patient Travel department:

Patient Travel Administrator NHS Highland Assynt House Beechwood Park Inverness IV2 3BW 

• email [email protected]  
• phone 01463 704902

Argyll and Bute

Patient Travel Administrator Aros Blarbuie Road Lochgilphead PA31 8LB

• phone 01546 605653
• or phone 07890 435 590
• or phone 07890 435 591

To make a flight booking or obtain a ferry warrant:

• Campbeltown - phone 01586 552105
• Islay and Jura - phone 01496 301031 or email [email protected]
• Tiree - phone 01879 220323

Entitlement to financial assistance

The Patient Travel Schemes are not designed to fully reimburse patients for the full cost of travelling to attend an appointment but to provide a contribution towards the cost.

NHS Scotland Patient Travel Scheme

All NHS Scotland patients are entitled to help with travel costs if they are in receipt of certain income-based benefits. This assistance is not dependent on distance travelled.

Highlands and Islands Patient Travel Scheme

This scheme recognises that patients who are resident in the Highlands and Islands may be required to travel significant distances to attend hospital appointments given the geography of the area.

Under this scheme all patients from the former Highlands and Islands Development Board areas are entitled to financial assistance with their travel costs if they live more than 30 miles from the hospital they are attending.  Patients not on a qualifying benefit are required to pay the first £10 of any claim.

Important: Financial assistance policy

View the full policy of financial assistance to support travel to and from hospital (pdf, September 2023).

Questions and answers

Who can claim travel expenses.

Patients who have a permanent address in the NHS Highland area, and authorised escorts.  An escort is defined as being for a patient who needs assistance to ensure the safe completion of the journey to or from hospital.

Escorts must return home at the earliest opportunity, however if they choose to stay they must do so at their own expense.  Escorts who are required to accompany patients to and from hospital may either return home and travel back to hospital on patient discharge, or remain near the hospital - provided the cost of accommodation does not exceed that of the second return journey which would otherwise have been required.

What can be claimed?

Patients travelling by car are entitled to be reimbursed for fuel expenses at the prevailing mileage rate.

Patients travelling by public transport - standard class bus, train and ferry fares can be reclaimed upon production of receipts.

Taxis - travel by taxi should be seen as a last resort and reimbursement will be considered in certain circumstances, for example no public transport availability.  Taxi travel must be approved prior to the journey.

Accommodation - patients and approved escorts will be entitled to have overnight stay costs refunded at the current rate per person per night, if the stay is unavoidable due to the time of the appointment, admission or discharge.

What cannot be claimed?

The following expenses cannot be claimed:

• Visiting expenses
• Loss of earnings
• Subsistence (meals and refreshments)
• Parking fines
• Childcare costs

What are the rates of reimbursement?

For appointments dated after 1 March 2024:

• Patient contribution: £10
• Mileage rate: 15p per mile
• Overnight bed and breakfast rate: up to £50 per person per night
• Rate for staying overnight with family or friends: £10 per night

The rate of reimbursement is based on the HMRC fuel advisory rate for a petrol engine 1400cc to 2000cc. The reimbursement rate for each financial year will be determined by the advisory fuel rate from 1 September. The rates can go down as well as up.

Travel and transport

For particular hospital travel arrangements - location, directions and parking - see information for each hospital .

Help with transport planning and costs of travel within the NHS Highland area.

Travel to Raigmore Hospital

Transport and directions to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, and parking.

Travel to National Treatment Centre - Highland

Transport and directions to National Treatment Centre - Highland, in Inverness, and parking.

Active travel

Active travel to NHS Highland sites - drive less, move more, feel good.

Public transport

Public transport providers, timetables and journey planners.

Scottish Ambulance Patient Transport Service

If you are medically unfit to travel, you should contact the Scottish Ambulance Patient Transport Service.

Travel vaccines

You can get vaccinations for international travel at local community pharmacies.

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Next review date: 4 October 2024

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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

This page explains who's eligible for the scheme and how to make a claim.

If you have questions about help with health costs, contact the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) online or call 0300 330 1343. They will respond to your queries Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm and Saturday, 9am to 3pm.

Who can claim for help with travel costs?

To qualify for help with travel costs under the HTCS, you must meet 3 criteria:

• At the time of your appointment, you or your partner (including civil partners) must receive one of the qualifying benefits or allowances listed on this page, or meet the eligibility criteria for the NHS Low Income Scheme .
• You must have a referral for specialist care from a healthcare professional to a specialist or a hospital for further NHS treatment or tests (often referred to as secondary care).
• Your appointment must be on a separate visit to when the referral was made. This applies whether your treatment is provided at a different location (hospital or clinic) or on the same premises as where the GP or another health professional issued the referral.

Children and other dependants

You can claim travel costs for your children if you're eligible for any of the benefits described under condition 1 and your child has been referred for treatment as outlined in condition 2 and condition 3 above.

If your child is aged 16 or over, they may make their own claim under the Low Income Scheme.

Carers and escorts

You can claim travel costs for an escort if your healthcare professional says it's medically necessary for someone to travel with you.

Some integrated care boards (ICBs) may accept claims for help with travel costs if you're the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 who you have to bring with you to your appointment.

These payments are made on the basis of the patient's eligibility for the scheme, irrespective of the escort's eligibility.

Who cannot claim help with travel costs?

You cannot claim help with travel costs if you're visiting someone in hospital.

You also cannot claim if you're visiting a GP, dentist or another primary care service provider for routine check-ups or other services, such as vaccinations or cervical cancer screening, as these are excluded from the scheme.

Urgent primary care services during out-of-hours periods (between 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays, weekends or bank holidays) are also excluded.

What are the qualifying benefits and allowances?

You can claim help with travel costs if you or your partner (including civil partner) receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit Guarantee Credit
• you receive Universal Credit and meet the criteria

You can also claim for help with travel costs if:

• you're named on, or entitled to, an NHS tax credit exemption certificate (if you do not have a certificate, you can show your award notice) – you qualify if you get child tax credits, working tax credits with a disability element (or both), and have income for tax credit purposes of £15,276 or less
• you have a low income and are named on certificate HC2 (full help) or HC3 (limited help) – you can apply for these certificates through the NHS Low Income Scheme

Find out more about NHS tax credit exemption certificates on the NHSBSA website .

Find out more about the NHS Low Income Scheme .

What form of transport can I use?

The NHS organisation handling your claim will normally base any refund on what would have been the cheapest suitable mode of transport for your circumstances.

This can include your age, medical condition or any other relevant factors, such as the availability of public transport.

This means you should use the cheapest, most appropriate means of transport, which in most cases will be public transport.

If you travelled by car and your claim was approved, you'll be reimbursed for the cost of fuel at the mileage rate used by your local integrated care board (ICB) .

You may also be able to claim for unavoidable car parking and toll charges.

If you need to use a taxi, you should agree this in advance with the hospital or ICB before you travel.

Patients in London may be able to claim reimbursement of congestion charges or Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges. Get more information on reimbursements of the Congestion Charge and ULEZ charge on the Transport for London website .

Help with similar schemes in other areas may be available – check with your ICB.

Help with travel costs before your appointment

You're expected to pay for your travel and claim back the costs within 3 months.

In some cases, you may be able to get an advanced payment to help you attend your appointment.

The NHS service providing your treatment should be able to tell you how to apply. Alternatively, contact your local ICB for advice.

How do I claim a refund?

To claim your travel costs, take your travel receipts, appointment letter or card, plus proof that you're receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to a nominated cashiers' office.

Nominated cashiers' offices are located in the hospital or clinic that treated you. They'll assess your claim and make the payment directly to you.

In some hospitals, the name of the office you need to go to may be different (for example, the General Office or the Patient Affairs Office).

If you're not sure, ask reception or Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS) staff where you should go.

Some hospitals and clinics do not have cashier facilities. In this case, you can complete an HC5(T) travel refund form and post it to the address stated on the form.

You can make a postal claim up to 3 months after your appointment took place.

Download an HC5(T) form to claim necessary costs of travel for NHS treatment from NHSBSA website.

Can I claim travel expenses for treatment abroad?

If you're travelling abroad for treatment on the NHS, you may be able to claim for travel costs incurred travelling from your home to the international railway station, port or airport where you leave Great Britain and your international journey begins.

This is treated the same as if you were travelling from home to receive NHS care in Great Britain. You can claim for these costs if you would normally qualify for help with travel costs through the HTCS.

The cost of your travel from the port in Great Britain to the place of treatment abroad falls within NHS foreign travel expenses and cannot be claimed through the HTCS.

NHS foreign travel expenses are necessary travel expenses that a person incurs when travelling abroad from a port in Great Britain to receive services arranged by the NHS.

You'll only be entitled to have NHS foreign travel expenses paid for when the health service body that made the arrangements for services to be provided overseas agrees the mode and cost of travel, and the necessity or otherwise for a companion. This all has to happen before the costs are incurred.

Find out more about going abroad for medical treatment.

Important numbers

• Call 0300 330 1348 for the dental services helpline
• Call 0300 330 1343 for the Low Income Scheme helpline
• Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about medical exemption certificates
• Call 0300 330 1341 for queries about prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs)
• Call 0300 330 1349 for the prescription services helpline
• Call 0300 330 1347 for queries about tax credit certificates
• Call 0300 123 0849 to order a paper copy of the HC12, HC5 and HC1 (SC) forms
• Call 0300 330 1343 for all other queries

Page last reviewed: 14 August 2023 Next review due: 14 August 2026

Help with Travel Costs

If you have to travel more than 30 miles, or more than five miles by sea, to attend a hospital appointment, you’re entitled to claim reasonable* travel costs under the Highlands and Islands Travel Scheme (HITS). £10 will be deducted from your claim as a patient contribution.

If you’re on a low income, you’re entitled to help with travel costs regardless of the distance you have to travel, under HITS. No patient contribution will be deducted from your claim if you qualify under this criteria.

If you, or those you depend on, receive at least one of the following types of financial support, you’re automatically entitled to claim reasonable * travel expenses:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee Pension Credit
• An NHS Tax Credit Exemption Certificate; or

If you're included in an award of Universal Credit:

• and have had no earnings, or net earnings (take-home pay) of £435 or less, during the most recent assessment period
• which includes an element for a child and/or limited capability for work-related activity, and have had no earnings, or net earnings (take-home pay) of £935 or less, during the most recent assessment period

*Reasonable Travel Expenses “Reasonable travel expenses” means you should use public transport where available, as far as is practicably possible, or you should use your own car and get reimbursed for fuel costs. Shetland Health Board currently reimburses fuel costs in line with the HMRC advisory fuel rate for a 1401cc to 2000cc petrol car, which is updated quarterly online. Full details of  Shetland public transport services can be accessed online, or by phone on 01595 744868 .The dial-a-journey scheme is one of the public transport options available.

In exceptional cases where no alternative is available, you can use a taxi to connect with public transport services to reach your appointment. You can also use a taxi if you have restricted mobility which makes it impossible for you to take public transport. However, please note Patient Travel must authorise the use of a taxi before the costs can be reimbursed.

If you’re on a low income, you may also qualify for further help with Healthcare costs. Details of the assistance available can be found at Citizens Advice Scotland or NHS Inform .

See our Patient Travel Policy for further details.  

Travelling to Europe for planned healthcare (S2 scheme)

If you’re eligible, under the S2 scheme you can get funding for planned treatment in:

• an EU country
• Switzerland
• Liechtenstein

The S2 scheme applies to public healthcare providers only. It can’t be used to pay for private treatment abroad.

If your application is approved, you will receive the same standard of care as residents of the country you will be treated in.

Health insurance

You should take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or  Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) . This is in case you need healthcare that’s not related to your treatment under the S2 scheme.

The EHIC or GHIC are not a replacement for travel insurance. This is because they may not cover all health costs. They also never cover the cost of returning you to your home country (known as medical repatriation).

You must have comprehensive travel insurance that fully meets your need. You should make your insurance provider aware that you’re travelling overseas for health treatment.

Who can get treatment under the S2 scheme?

You must meet certain criteria to be treated under the S2 scheme. Your local health board will consider if you’re eligible. To do this, they will assess your condition and circumstances.

Your treatment must be authorised by your local health board before you have it. Applications that are sent after treatment has been provided will not be considered.

You can’t use the S2 scheme for a clinical trial or an experimental part of any treatment package.

There is a different process for healthcare under the S2 scheme if you’re going to  give birth abroad .

Criteria for treatment

The criteria for treatment under the S2 scheme is:

• you must live in Scotland, be registered with a GP practice and be entitled to treatment from the NHS
• your application must be approved by your local health board and the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA)
• the treatment is available under the treating country’s state healthcare scheme (not private)
• your local health board must confirm that the NHS can’t provide the treatment you need, or equivalent treatment, in a medically acceptable timeframe (this is known as undue delay)
• a clinician or healthcare provider in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein must provide written confirmation of the planned treatment dates and estimated cost
• a full medical assessment from a clinician in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein supporting the diagnosis, need for treatment and timeline for treatment – this can be supported by a clinician in the UK

How to apply to use the S2 scheme

If you live in Scotland, you should apply for the S2 scheme using the application form. This form is the same as the one used for patients in  NHS England.

You should discuss your plans with your  local health board  before deciding to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Your GP practice may also be able to tell you what options are available. Your GP can refer you to a clinician in your local health board if necessary. They will be able to discuss your options with you and confirm that:

• the treatment you want is routinely available on the NHS to someone in your circumstances
• you fully understand the conditions that you’ll be treated under
• you fully understand any after-care or follow-up treatment you may need when you return to Scotland

How treatment under the S2 scheme is authorised

Your local health board must assess your application before it’s submitted to the NHS BSA. This is unless you’re travelling abroad to give birth .

You must also provide a completed declaration from your chosen healthcare provider. This confirms that your treatment will be provided through the country’s state healthcare system. It also confirms that they can accept an S2 certificate.

The declaration form can be downloaded from  NHS England .

If your application is approved, the NHS BSA will issue an S2 certificate (payment guarantee form) directly to you. You must show the S2 certificate to the healthcare provider that’s treating you.

Paying for treatment under the S2 scheme

If your application is approved, the cost of your treatment will be the same as residents of the country you’ll be treated in. This may mean you have to pay some of the costs yourself. This is known as a co-payment charge.

In some countries, healthcare is free at the point of delivery. This means the cost of approved treatment under the S2 scheme will be covered and you won’t have to pay.

In other counties, patients cover part of their state healthcare costs. For example, a patient may have to cover 25% of their treatment costs. The state will then cover the other 75% of costs.

If you’re treated in a country with this system, you will have to pay some treatment costs. For example, an operation could cost £8000. You would be expected to pay a standard patient co-payment charge of 25% on this. This means you would pay £2000. The NHS would then pay the remaining £6000.

You should request an estimate of all treatment costs, including any expected co-payment. You should do this before submitting your completed application for funding to the NHS BSA.

Reclaiming co-payments

If you’ve paid a co-payment for your treatment, you may be able to claim back some or all of your contribution.

To get further information on co-payments, or apply for a reimbursement of a co-payment:

• phone Overseas Healthcare Services on 0191 218 1999
• complete the online form on the  NHS Business Services Authority website

Travel and accommodation costs

Travel and accommodation costs linked to your treatment are not covered under the S2 scheme. They will not be reimbursed by the NHS BSA or your local health board. This includes travel and accommodation costs for people or carers travelling with you.

Maternity care and giving birth outside the UK

If you want to give birth in an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you need to:

• Download and complete the  giving birth abroad application form.
• Provide a  Maternity Certificate (MATB1)  or a letter from a medical professional in Scotland. This should confirm your expected date of delivery.

You will need to send your completed application form and supporting documents to the NHS BSA.

Their email address is [email protected]

You should email your supporting documents as a PDF attachment.

What care is covered?

Your giving birth abroad application only covers maternity care and delivery.

You should make sure you have a valid EHIC or GHIC for any other routine medical care you or your baby need.

An EHIC or GHIC are not a replacement for travel insurance. It may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs.

You must have comprehensive travel insurance that fully meets your individual healthcare needs.

Further information is available through:

• NHS England
• NHS Business Services Authority website

How to make an appeal or request a review

If you’re unhappy with the results of your application, you can request:

• a review of the decision – if you have more information or evidence that wasn’t in the original application
• make an appeal to your local health board – if you don’t agree with the decision to reject your application, but don’t have any more information or evidence

Further information

If you need more information about the S2 scheme, you should contact your local health board.

Source: Scottish Government - Opens in new browser window

Last updated: 21 April 2023

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Make a claim

Who can claim.

If you're the parent, primary carer or sibling (aged under 18) of a young inpatient under the age of 18 receiving hospital care, you can claim for the costs of travel and food.

An inpatient is a patient who lives in hospital while having treatment. You cannot claim costs for outpatient visits through the scheme.

You must normally live in Scotland. You need to make the claim from the Young Patients Family Fund within 3 months of the young inpatient being discharged from hospital.

A primary carer is someone who is not the biological parent of the young inpatient but has parental responsibility and is responsible for their care and upbringing.

How to make a claim

You can either:

• download the Young Patients Family Fund claim form
• ask for a Young Patients Family Fund claim form at the hospital

You can use this form to make a claim for more than one eligible visitor or you can fill in separate claim forms.

What you need when claiming

When filling in the claim form you'll need the:

• patient’s name and date of birth
• patient's CHI number
• names of claimants and their contact details
• bank details (if you wish to be paid by bank transfer)
• name of the hospital, ward name and number
• consultant's name
• date of admission
• details of your claim

You also need to send evidence with your claim form. For example, receipts or bank statements for all public transport, parking and accommodation.

You do not need to provide evidence for any claims for the cost of food and drink.

The cost of any food or non-alcoholic drinks is limited at up to £8.50 per day for each eligible visitor. You cannot claim for this if you've already received food of food vouchers direct from the hospital.

You must get the form signed by a medical professional at the hospital where the young patient was cared for.

Where to claim

After you've filled in the claim form, hand it in to the cash office of the hospital where the patient is being treated. Or you can post it to the NHS Board in the area where they are being treated.

When to claim

You can make a claim:

• more than once throughout the young inpatient’s stay in hospital – for example, weekly
• in full for the entire stay in hospital once they have been discharged – this must be within 3 months

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Information on how to claim travel expenses can be found in the NES Travel and Subsistence Policy .

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How do I apply for a refund of NHS health costs I’ve already paid?

If you paid for treatment before finding out you had a  qualifying benefit or exemption , you may be able to claim a refund.

Refunds must be claimed within 3 months of the date you made payment.

If you live in England

Download, print and return the relevant form:

• NHS dental treatment: HC5(D) (PDF: 85.2KB)
• Sight test, glasses or contact lenses: HC5(O) (PDF: 82.5KB)
• Necessary costs of travel to receive NHS treatment: HC5(T) (PDF: 84.5KB)
• NHS wigs or fabric supports: HC5(W) (PDF: 78.3KB)

You can also order a form online  and we'll post it to you.

The HC5(W) form cannot be ordered online. You must call 0300 330 1343 and we'll post the form to you.

To claim a prescription refund , ask your pharmacist for a FP57 refund receipt when you pay. You cannot get one later. The FP57 form tells you how to claim your refund.

If you live in Scotland

Download, print and return back to us  the HC5 – Scotland refund form (PDF: 80.5KB) .

You can also get an HC5 from your GP practice or pharmacy.

Read more information if you paid for a prescription issued in England .

If you live in Wales

Visit the Wales help with health costs website to download leaflets and forms .

You can also call 0345 603 1108 and select the option for health publications to get a copy sent to you.

You might be able to get an HC5 from:

• NHS hospitals
• GP practices

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Foreign travel expenses of Clinical Director of NHS Scotland

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

Information requested

You asked for the following information: 

how much the Clinical Director of NHS Scotland (Professor Jason Leitch) has spent on U.K. and foreign expenses travel (including taxi, train, flights, hotels, meals and subsistence) during the period April 2015-April 2022, and 

how many working days he spent at U.K. and international conferences and meetings during the same period? 

Over the period April 2015 to April 2022 the National Clinical Director, Jason Leitch has incurred expenses relating to UK and international travel totalling a cost of £13,503.73. Over the same period, Jason Leitch has attended in-person UK and International conferences and meetings in a Scottish Government capacity totalling to 253 working days. A breakdown of costs and working days per financial years are set out below. 

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses .

Please quote the FOI reference Central Enquiry Unit Email: [email protected] Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government St Andrews House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

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Travel expense claims contact lists for NHS Boards

Contact List for NHS Boards

These details were checked with the Boards in August 2022. 

Please also see here for details of the relevant schemes:  Claiming Travel & Subsistence Expenses (scot.nhs.uk)

In general, the cash office will assist and advise with claims in the first instance but claims for travel outside the Board may be referred on to the ‘Safehaven’ team.