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.
Free bus travel for under 22s
Bus travel is free for everyone aged 5 to 21 in Scotland, but you must have a valid National Entitlement Card (NEC) or Young Scot NEC with the free bus travel smart product on it. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to pay the fare.
There are a range of ways to apply for an NEC or Young Scot NEC, including for those without digital access or photo ID.
Visit the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel Scheme website for details of how to apply.
Help with healthcare travel expenses
If you travel to hospital for NHS treatment you may be entitled to help with your travel costs under Scottish Government Help with Health Costs scheme (HCS1). If you receive a qualifying benefit or benefits, or are entitled to help through the NHS Low Income scheme you can apply for healthcare travel expense reimbursement.
Additional information on healthcare travel expenses entitlement can be found on 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. This normally includes bus fares, rail fares or a mileage allowance for travel by private car. 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 Help with Health Costs travel expense (HCS1) claims
To check whether you qualify for help with healthcare travel expenses or to make a travel expense claim, please enquire at the Hospital Cash Office on the day of your hospital visit. The Cash Offices are located close to then main entrances of our hospitals.
Alternatively, those on qualifying benefits 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.
Additional support for families
The Scottish Government provides additional support with travel and related costs for some families visiting hospital.
- Neonatal Expenses Fund – helps parents of babies receiving neonatal care with costs such as travel, meals and accommodation. Parents travelling separately may be able to claim for separate journeys.
- Young Patients Family Fund – helps parents, carers, and siblings under 18, with travel and food costs when visiting a child or young person under 18 who is receiving inpatient hospital care.
Further information
If you require further information on any of the travel expenses policies, please contact Ayrshire_Patient_Travel@aapct.scot.nhs.uk