The Welsh Ambulance Service’s Patient Care Service can arrange free transport to and from routine outpatient appointments at clinics, hospitals and day centres. You will need to meet certain criteria to qualify, but if you answer yes to any of the following questions you should be entitled to transport:

Do you need to travel in a wheelchair?

Do you need continual support to walk?

Do you suffer from a mental health problem, learning disability, speech, sight or hearing difficulty, which prevents you from using public transport?

Do you experience side effects as a result of your medical treatment or condition, which prevents you from using public transport?

Do you need a stretcher, or oxygen or other medical gases for the journey?

Do you currently receive regular dialysis or cancer treatment?

As well as accident and emergency services, the Welsh Ambulance Service also arranges and provides transport free of charge to hospital or dentist surgeries for patients who are medically unfit to travel by any other means. Please call 0300 123 23 03 for more information. At least 48 hours’ notice is usually required.

There are times when a carer will be able to accompany you on the Hospital transport, for example:

You require constant care throughout the journey

You have severe communication difficulties or a mental health condition that makes it unsuitable for you to be unaccompanied

You require support for a first referral

You are receiving dialysis or cancer treatment

You are under 18

If you qualify for the help above then they will be able to provide transport to any hospital that the appointment is in.

If you do not meet the criteria for the Patient Care Service free Hospital Transport, you may be able to access other forms of door-to-door Community Transport:

• Pembrokeshire Country Cars – This scheme is run by the Royal Voluntary Service and provides transport for people who can’t make their journey any other way. The scheme is run by volunteer drivers using their own cars and three wheelchair accessible cars are also available. Call 07585997091 to enquire. Ride at a discounted rate with a Concessionary Travel Pass.
• The Fflecsi Pembrokeshire service can also be used to travel to Withybush Hospital from anywhere in Northwest Pembrokeshire. Call 0300 234 0300 or visit www.fflecsi.wales.
• Town Rider Services – These are door-to-door accessible minibus services which are operated by Green Dragon Bus, for local journeys within the main County towns.

These could be used to access Withybush Hospital – Haverfordwest Town Rider on Tuesdays and Fridays

South Pembs Hospital – Pembroke/Pembroke Dock Town Rider on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Tenby Cottage Hospital – Tenby & Saundersfoot Town Rider on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

Cardigan Hospital – Cardigan Town Rider on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (this service can also offer a lift from Bwlchygroes and Tegryn and other stops on route to Cardigan, and from Mynachlogddu on Wednesdays). There is also a St. Dogmaels dial-a-ride which operates on a Thursday from the St. Dogmaels, Moylegrove, Cilgerran and Llechryd areas.

• Ride FREE with a Concessionary Travel Pass or pay a fare if you haven’t got a pass. Anyone who is unable to access public transport can use the services, for any reason. For enquiries or bookings please call 0845 686 0242. 
• The Fflecsi Pembrokeshire service can also be used to travel to Withybush Hospital – call 0300 234 0300 or see www.fflecsi.wales.

If you are in receipt of Income Related Benefits or have a low income, you may be able to receive a refund on the cost of your journey. Patients who are in receipt of certain benefits or are on the Lower Income Scheme are eligible to apply for help with the necessary transport costs for NHS treatment under the care of a consultant. The costs may be paid in full, or in part, and these may include:

• Public Transport fares.
• A mileage allowance for travel by private car or the equivalent public transport costs (whichever is the less).
• Contributions the patient may make towards transport costs if they are taken to or from the hospital by a community transport provider or a local voluntary car scheme.

The main contact point for this scheme will be General Offices based in each of our Hospitals.

Withybush Hospital – on-site parking is free.

Glangwili Hospital – Parking at Glangwili General Hospital can be challenging during busy periods. For this reason, we have set up a park and ride service from the Nantyci showground car park to the hospital. This is open to all patients, visitors and staff and only takes 15 minutes to go between the sites. The service operates from 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Friday, and runs every 30 minutes. Pick up from the showground is on the hour and half past the hour. Pick up from the hospital is every quarter to and quarter past the hour. The cost of this service is £1 per person and includes return. For more information about this service, please follow this link: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/83744

Vulnerable young families – In many cases families will be unable to meet the initial costs of these journeys, and taxis or bus tickets may be provided where bus services are appropriate. Books of tickets will be made available at the following wards and departments, and will be issued at the discretion of the Senior Nurse on duty:

• Glangwili Hospital – Cilgerran Ward / SCBU / PACU / MLU / A&E / CAMHS.
• Withybush Hospital – PACU / MLU / A&E/ CAMHS

You can also contact PACTO’s Transport Connector Service by calling 01437 701 123 or emailing transportconnector@pacto.org.uk to find the right option for you.