Rhoda Grant MSP Questions Patient Travel Reimbursement And Chat Spoke To The Health Minister

16th August 2022

Highlands and Islands Regional MSP Rhoda Grant has submitted a written question on NHS Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme and is calling on the Scottish Government to prioritise its review and to stop "dragging their feet".

This comes after the Scottish Government revealed to her that the NHS Patient Travel Reimbursement Scheme was going to be reviewed but that review was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, there was no indication of when the review will begin.

The regional MSP has added pressure by submitting a Parliamentary Written Question in the hope to gain some clarity on the review time scales.

Rhoda Grant said: "In a cost-of-living crisis, I fear that patients in need of healthcare will not be able to afford the travel expenses at the current out-of-date rate. Hotels prices in Inverness at this time of year are shocking and petrol prices are through the roof. The elderly, working poor and those on benefits will be sacrificing their health to keep costs down - which is heartbreaking.

"Services have been centralised to Inverness and elsewhere but the Scottish Government have been dragging their feet when it comes to this review. It desperately needs to become a priority."

The Scottish Government set overall guidance on Patient Travel Reimbursement however disbursements are made by health boards in accordance with their own eligibility policies.

Health Minister Humza Yousaf met with Caithness Health Action Team in Wick on 15th August 2022. Bill Fernie for CHAT asked the minister to look more into the level of patient travel expenses where the amounts came no where close to covering the cost. CHAT highlighted maternity travel issues as well as other heath related issues that meant thousands of journeys to Raigmore were impacting on individuals and families at a difficult time financially. The minister promised to get back with a response about travel and other other health issues CHAT had highlighted.
To read more about the CHAT meeting with Humza Yousaf go to the
CHAT Facebook page