HC Deb 27 October 1988 vol 139 cc326-7W
Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision is made for reimbursing chronically ill patients who use their own transport when travelling for treatment at hospital in a separate health district; how many reimbursements were made in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the average reimbursement made.

Mrs. Currie

Transport by the ambulance service is provided free of charge for those patients considered medically unfit to travel by other means. Help is available under the hospital travel costs scheme for those patients on low incomes who are not eligible for ambulance service transport, including those who use their own transport. Information on the number of reimbursements made under this scheme, and the average amount paid, is not collected centrally.

Mr. Nicholas Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimates he has as to the annual cost of inter-authority transport arrangements for chronically ill patients requiring treatment in a hospital run by a different health authority; what was the average cost per patient in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the total number of journeys undertaken.

Mrs. Currie

I regret that this information is not collected centrally.