AQW 13229/22-27

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 11/06/2024
Answered On Date: 25/06/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the total funding allocation for the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme, broken down by (i) Health and Social Care Trust; (ii) type of vehicle used; (iii) average journey mileage; and (iv) number of journeys, in each of the last five years.

Answer:

The Department does not provide a specific funding allocation for the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme and as such does not maintain any specific data relating to the scheme.

Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts, usually through individual hospitals, administer the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health. This scheme is funded through their overall budget allocation. HSC Trusts are responsible for informing patients of their entitlement, checking the appropriate travel costs and refunding travel costs to which patients are entitled.

My Department has made enquires with the HSC Trusts and has been informed that they do not centrally compile data on overall spend on this scheme nor do hospitals routinely retain data relating to the type of vehicle used, the average journey mileage or the number of journeys made. However, if you would like to pursue this matter further you will need to contact the HSC Trusts directly.