We’d like to hear about your experiences of travelling to medical appointments in York and North Yorkshire.

 

Recent changes to the national eligibility criteria for NHS-funded patient transport means some people no longer qualify. We want to understand how this affects people — whether it makes it harder to get to appointments, and what alternatives (if any) people are using.

 

Your answers are anonymous. They will help Healthwatch York and Healthwatch North Yorkshire highlight issues and improve support.

 
Thank you in advance for your time and help. We really appreciate it and it will help to improve services. 

 

1. Who are you filling in this form for?

 

2. In the past 12 months, have you had medical appointments you needed help to travel to? This could be at the hospital, GP practice, community stadium (York), diagnostic centre or other community venue. 

 

3. What type(s) of appointments were these? (tick all that apply)

 

4. Before the eligibility criteria changed (1 April 2025), did you use the NHS patient transport service to get to any appointments?  You would need to book this service and usually a non-emergency ambulance would collect you and take you to an appointment. 

 

5. Since the criteria changed (1 April 2025), have you been told you are not eligible for NHS patient transport?

 

6. Since the criteria changed, has anything else about patient transport changed? (tick all that apply) 

 

7. If you were told you are not eligible for patient transport, what alternative(s) have you used to attend your appointments? (tick all that apply)

 

8. If you are a wheelchair user and are no longer eligible for patient transport, have you experienced any additional problems in getting to appointments? (tick all that apply) 

 

9. Have you cancelled or missed appointments because you could not get transport?

 

10. What were the main reasons for cancelling or missing an appointment? (tick all that apply)

 

11. How else has the changed patient transport criteria affected you? 

 

12. Are you aware of the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme? (People on some benefits including income support, income-based job-seekers allowance, pension credit guarantee credit, can get help with the cost of travel)

 

13. How confident do you feel about being able to travel to future medical appointments?

 

14. Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your experience of travelling to medical appointments?