If you need to visit one of our sites, please take a moment to consider how you will plan your journey.
Traveline Journey Planner
If you are traveling by public transport, walking, wheeling or cycling to hospital, you can use the Traveline Journey Planner to help you plan your transport or to view local transport timetables.
Traveline app for Apple and Android
This free app provides all of the information travellers in Scotland need to know when planning a journey.
For public transport, the app includes departure boards for every bus stop in Great Britain. Transport times are also available for Scottish ferry terminals and Glasgow Subway stations, together with local taxi details relevant to your location.
Further details can be found by visiting Traveline Scotland app section of the Traveline Scotland website.
This can save time and money and may make it easier to allow a member of your family or carer to be with you on a call.
Telephone appointments
Some appointments do not need to be done face to face and instead might be carried out over the telephone.
You will be sent a letter with the date and time of your pre-arranged appointment and the clinician will contact you as near to the time stated as possible. It is difficult to estimate the time required for each consultation however the clinician will try to call you as close to your appointment time as possible.
The appointment telephone call will be from the number 0800 678 3393. It is a good idea to save this number in your phone so that you know it is the NHS calling you.
Please make sure your telephone number is up to date with your GP Practice.
NHS Near Me Video Call
Some appointments do not need to be done in person and instead might be carried out by video call.
Video calls are carried out using NHS Near Me which is a safe and secure video calling platform that allows us to bring care closer to you.
You will be sent a letter with details of your pre-arranged appointment and more information on NHS Near Me. Near Me / Attend Anywhere – NHS Ayrshire & Arran
This can often be cheaper whilst also giving you time to relax and reduce the stress of finding a parking space.
Bus Travel
Our main sites are on bus routes: visit Traveline or call 0871 200 22 33 for more information on planning your journey.
Some people may also be able to access concessionary bus travel for example those under 22 years of age, over 60 years of age, disabled and island communities.
Main Providers:
- Stagecoach West visit Live Bus Times & Timetables or download the app Stagecoach Bus App
- Shuttle Buses visit Shuttle Buses
Travelling by train
Car parking at our sites is free. Due to high levels of demand please allow extra time for parking and please park responsibly.
Disabled parking facilities are available at all NHS Ayrshire and Arran sites closer to the main entrance.
Patients, relatives or carers are expected to arrange self-transport of the patient to and from their healthcare appointments, unless a clinical or mobility need prevents this.
Patients who have a clinical or mobility need and meet the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) transport eligibility criteria may qualify for SAS transport assistance. To find out if you are eligible for SAS Patient Transport assistance please telephone: 0300 123 1236 and visit the SAS website for more information (Need Ambulance Support to your appointment?)
If you travel to hospital for NHS treatment you may be entitled to help with your travel costs if you get a qualifying benefit or benefits, or are entitled to help through the NHS low Income Scheme. Additional information on travel expenses entitlement can be found on the NHS Inform website: Help with transport costs for NHS treatment | NHS inform
If you live on the Island of Arran or Cumbrae and don’t receive any qualifying benefits, you may be entitled to a contribution towards travel costs as part of the Highlands and Islands Travel scheme. To be eligible for this the distance from your home to the hospital must be 30 miles or more, or involve a journey by sea of more than 5 miles. Patients who meet this criteria are entitled to claim expenses in excess of £10.
If you meet the criteria for assistance with travel expenses, the Board will reimburse the costs of travel on the basis of the most appropriate and cost-effective mode of transport. Anticipated modes of transport would be an appropriate form of public transport (bus or train) or the use of a private car. A mileage allowance is paid where a private car is used. The mileage allowance is based on the HMRC fuel advisory rate for a petrol engine of 1400cc and is reviewed every year.
Process for submitting claims
To claim for travel expenses you should attend the Cash Office on the day of your hospital visit. The Cash Offices are located close to the main entrances of our hospitals. Alternatively you can complete the Claim Form and submit this by email to Ayrshire_Patient_Travel@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Travel expenses for travel to National Treatment Centres
If you are on a waiting list for treatment which is normally delivered within NHS Ayrshire and Arran, but the Board asks you to travel to a National Treatment Centre or other hospital for this treatment as part of an initiative to reduce waiting times, then you may be eligible for assistance with the additional travel expense. Most commonly this involves patients who agree to have their treatment at NHS Golden Jubilee National Hospital. This assistance is available to all patients irrespective of whether they are in receipt of benefits or not.
For further information on National Treatment Centre travel expenses please ask the member of staff who has arranged for your transfer to the other hospital, or ask at the hospital you have been transferred to when you attend for your treatment. Please note that this form includes a section for the treating hospital to complete, and you must get this completed prior to submission of your claim.
Further information
If you require further information on any of the Travel Expenses policies, please contact Ayrshire_Patient_Travel@aapct.scot.nhs.uk