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Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme: Instructions and guidance for the NHS

This document provides information and guidance to NHS organisations on the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which replaces the current Hospital Travel Costs Scheme.

The main differences between the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme and its predecessor are:

• Subject to a limited exception, patients referred by a doctor or dentist for non-primary care services under the National Health Service Act 2006 (including treatments or tests which would traditionally have been carried out in the hospital setting but are now provided elsewhere) are now eligible to have their travel expenses to receive such services paid for under the scheme, where they meet the eligibility criteria;
• Road and toll charges may now be reimbursed through the scheme.

This document is split into two parts that provide NHS organisations with information on :

• The legal requirements in relation to the administration of the HTCS scheme;
• Good practice guidance on how the scheme may be delivered, including details on eligibility criteria and best practice resources.
  

• Download HTCS Instructions and guidance (March 2008) (PDF, 367K)