Request

1. ‘The number of HCTS applications (from June 2020 – March 2024 inclusive) made by NHS patients to enable travel to independent sector providers for referrals for NHS treatment across England’.

2. ‘Whether any data available distinguishes successful and unsuccessful applications made by NHS patients to the HTCS. If so, please indicate, respectively, the number of successful and unsuccessful applications made for travel to independent sector providers for NHS treatment’

3. ‘Whether the HTCS is the only, or main, scheme of support available to NHS patients to cover travel costs to independent sector providers for their NHS treatment. In other words, can Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) also be used for travel to independent sector providers for outpatient appointments?

4. ‘Whether the HTCS is also available for NHS patients accessing NHS treatment from SpaMedica clinics. Where referrals are made to SpaMedica by an optician (e.g. Boots or Specsavers) rather than a GP, are transport arrangements overseen by the NHS BSA, or individual Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)?

Response

1. ‘The number of HCTS applications (from June 2020 – March 2024 inclusive) made by NHS patients to enable travel to independent sector providers for referrals for NHS treatment across England’.

The NHSBSA assesses the eligibility of the applicant for a refund of their travel costs based on their exemption status. We do not collect information about where the patient travelled to and as such, we do not hold the requested information.

If eligibility for a refund of travel costs is confirmed by NHSBSA, the information is passed over to the ICB to check the travel claimed is appropriate and ultimately make payment. The ICB may be able to provide information on treatment locations and therefore, you may wish to redirect your request directly to the ICBs.

You can find your local ICB at: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-your-local-integrated-care-board/

2.‘Whether any data available distinguishes successful and unsuccessful applications made by NHS patients to the HTCS. If so, please indicate, respectively, the number of successful and unsuccessful applications made for travel to independent sector providers for NHS treatment’

As we do not hold data to answer question 1 above, we cannot provide a breakdown of successful and unsuccessful travel refund applications which relate to independent sector providers as this information is not held by the NHSBSA.

3.‘Whether the HTCS is the only, or main, scheme of support available to NHS patients to cover travel costs to independent sector providers for their NHS treatment. In other words, can Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) also be used for travel to independent sector providers for outpatient appointments?’

This is a general enquiry and therefore does not fall under the scope of the FOIA 2000.

In any event, the NHSBSA cannot answer this as while we process travel refund claims, we cannot comment on other schemes or support which may be available.

1. ‘Whether the HTCS is also available for NHS patients accessing NHS treatment from SpaMedica clinics. Where referrals are made to SpaMedica by an optician (e.g. Boots or Specsavers) rather than a GP, are transport arrangements overseen by the NHS BSA, or individual Integrated Care Boards (ICBs)?’

As above, this is a general query and does not fall under the scope of the FOIA 2000.

The NHSBSA assesses the eligibility of the applicant for a refund of their travel costs based on their exemption status only and therefore, we are unable to answer this query.

You may wish to redirect your question to the appropriate ICB who may be able to provide information on eligible treatment locations that NHS clinicians can refer to, and as such where travel refunds may be claimed.

Publishing this response

Please note that this information will be published on our Freedom of Information disclosure log at:

https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/foi-02265