Non-emergency Patient Transport (N.E.P.T)

Transcription

1 Patient Services Non-emergency Patient Transport (N.E.P.T) A guide for patients and visitors If you need this information in another format or language, please telephone Further information about the Trust is available on the following websites: KGH - NHS Choices - Ref: PI.678 June 2011 Review: June 2013 Information

2 Introduction We have reviewed our arrangements for patient transport in line with government recommendations; this leaflet helps to explain whether you qualify for hospital transport and how we can help if you don t. It is your responsibility to make your own way to and from hospital and/or clinic appointments therefore you should make every effort to get here by using either public transport, your own car, or by asking friends or family to bring and collect you by car, as parking is very limited. Hospital transport is only provided for those patients who have a severe medical need and whose mobility or medical condition makes it difficult or impossible to attend hospital without assistance. Transport cannot be provided just because of a patient s financial status or the distance they have to travel. How hospital transport is booked Other information For the benefit of our patients, visitors and staff, Kettering General Hospital operates a smoke-free policy. This means that smoking is not allowed within the hospital buildings, however, there are designated smoking areas on site. Please ask a member of staff for the nearest location if required. Leaflets, information, friendly advice and support on giving up smoking and on nicotine replacement therapy are available from the local Stop Smoking helpline on , the free national helpline on , smokefree@npct.northants.nhs.uk and local pharmacies. As car parking at Kettering General Hospital is extremely limited, it is essential to arrive early, allowing ample time for parking. Alternatively, you may find it more convenient to arrange to be dropped off and collected. For your first visit to hospital, transport will usually be requested by your GP, they will only book this for you if there are medical or mobility reasons that prevent you from using other forms of transport. For any follow-up appointments, or your discharge if you are an inpatient, the clinic/ward will be responsible for booking your transport. This will however, be based on the hospital s criteria for transport which may differ to that of a GP practice. You will need to tell the clinic/ward of your need for transport for each further appointment, however, patients will be assessed every time they request transport as their condition may have changed. We will only provide this for you if you continue to meet the hospital s eligibility criteria. 2 11

3 Useful web sites To be eligible for hospital transport you need to fall into one or more of these categories:- Are you eligible for hospital transport? Severe Medical Condition Due to your severe medical condition you are unable to travel by other means i.e. public transport, private car, taxi etc. Mobility You require specialist assistance to move from your bed/chair/property into the vehicle, and from the vehicle once you arrive at hospital. Supervision You may require care during the course of your journey in order to assist you with your clinical needs. How we decide if an escort can accompany a patient in the ambulance Only ONE relative escort will be circumstances: permitted under the following the patient is under 16 years of age the patient s medical condition is such that he/she requires constant supervision for safety the patient requires a qualified carer to assist him/her at their destination the patient has got communication difficulties that prevent him/her travelling alone and requires a suitably qualified carer to escort the patient We aim to keep escorts to a minimum as they take up seats that would otherwise be used for other patients. If an escort has not been booked then they will be unable to accompany you. 10 3

4 You are not eligible for hospital transport if you: have long-term mobility problems but normally have access to a vehicle or ordinarily make your own travel arrangements. have a social need but no medical condition that fits the hospital s eligibility criteria. Please see Transport to and from hospital on page 7 for alternative methods of transport. cannot, for whatever reason, make your own transport arrangements. Patients who are not eligible for hospital transport cannot afford to pay for public transport or a taxi fare although we may be able to help you with public transport fares. Please see Reclaiming the cost of your journey on page 5. Remember, it is your responsibility to make your own way to and from the hospital or clinic appointment whenever possible. Should you have any queries or problems organising transport to or from hospital, or wish to raise an issue regarding transport, you can contact PALs who will be more than happy to provide you with advice and information that may help you. Further Information For further information you can contact PALS: on (01536) during office hours (9am to 5pm), an answer phone service is available. or:- Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) pals@kgh.nhs.uk In writing:- PALS Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Rothwell Road KETTERING Northants NN16 8UZ Alternatively you can ask a member of staff to contact PALS on your behalf. 4 9

5 Northampton Volunteer Car Scheme (01604) Monday Friday 9.00am to 12 noon, an answer phone operates at other times or visit Rushden (SERVE) (01933) or visit Thrapston Volunteer Centre - (01832) or visit Volunteer Action Oundle (01832) Monday to Friday 9.30am to 12.30pm Volunteer Action South Leicestershire (01858) Monday to Friday 9.00am to 2.30pm Volunteer Centre Wellingborough - (01933) Monday to Friday or visit Wellingborough Volunteer Car Service Tel: Monday to Friday 9am to 12.30pm Please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) (01536) or the Cashiers Office for other voluntary schemes which may be available in your area. You may be eligible for reimbursement of your travel expenses under the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) if you are in receipt of at least one of the following: Reclaiming the cost of your journey Income Support Guaranteed Pension Credit Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit with an exemption certificate Income Based Job Seekers Allowance Public Transport Costs Bus fares and train fares are fully reimbursed when a valid receipt is produced. Local Travel Schemes Travel costs incurred through Kettering, Northampton Volunteer Car Service, Rushden (SERVE), Wellingborough Volunteer Centre and certain other voluntary travel schemes are refundable when a valid receipt is produced, please check with the Cashiers Office or provider for further details. Petrol Costs A petrol allowance is claimable for private car use from your home address to the hospital. Hospital Car Park receipts can be refunded too. Taxi Costs Taxi fares are not reimbursed. You will need proof of benefit for payment to be made, together with authorisation by reception staff of the attending clinic. 8 5

6 Patients attending clinic at Nuffield Diagnostic Centre, Corby; Isebrook Hospital, Wellingborough or Nene Park, Clinics should make enquiries at the clinic reception. Information about how to claim can be obtained through the cashiers office, situated in the main entrance of the hospital. INPATIENTS Ward staff can no longer book transport on your behalf without an assessment. This will be carried out by a trained assessor/trained nurse, to find out your medical needs. If you qualify for transport the most suitable transport will then be booked for you. To claim travel costs whilst being an inpatient at Kettering General Hospital, or when going home, please take your admission letter to the cashier s office in main reception. If you have been an inpatient and cannot provide either an admission or discharge letter, please ask the cashier for help. Car parking There is a charge to park at the hospital. As there is limited parking available, we strongly recommend that if possible, you are brought to the hospital and collected to go home. Parking for the Treatment Centre is at the rear of the main hospital and accessed via the hospital entrance at the bottom of Rothwell Road (near the bridge). There are a number of short stay (20 mins) parking spaces for dropping off and collecting. These spaces are free. Disabled spaces are situated close to the hospital entrances which are free of charge. If you have a disabled pass and no spaces are available, you can park in the main car parks. On presentation of your blue disc, at the car park office (in car park A) you will be able to obtain a concessionary rate. If patients are in hospital for a week or more, a signed voucher can be obtained from the ward, please take to the car park office (in Car Park A) to reduce the parking charges. Centenary Wing car park spaces are reserved for patients booked for treatment within this department. Eligible patients of the Centenary Wing may obtain day car parking passes from the Centenary Wing. Transport to and from Hospital Buses Stagecoach operates a regular service from the Newlands Centre and Horse Market in Kettering. These stop outside the hospital on Rothwell Road. There is also a service from Kettering railway station to Corby which stops outside the hospital. For further updated information, please contact: Stagecoach Northamptonshire on (8am - 5pm Mon-Fri), outside these times call Traveline on Taxis Taxis can be ordered via a free phone in the main reception area opposite the cashiers office. Alternatively if you are in hospital and need to book a taxi home the hospital switchboard will put you through to a local company. You will be responsible for paying the taxi fare directly to the driver. The yellow pages have details of other taxi companies and also those that provide wheelchair accessible vehicles. Voluntary Transport Schemes These may require membership and usually require booking a few days in advance. Corby Car Pool (01536) Monday to Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm. Kettering Volunteer Bureau (01536) Monday to Friday 9am to 12 noon 6 7