What action is the Welsh Government taking to help with travel costs for children and young people with cancer who face average monthly journeys of 530 miles to access treatment according to research by Young Lives vs Cancer?
There is already help and guidance in place to support people with travel costs as highlighted on the Welsh Government website Get help with NHS travel costs | GOV.WALES, This offer is available to all based on need and health boards should be discussing it with families and signposting them to this help.
The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust also provides non-emergency patient transport services. People are automatically eligible if they need to attend oncology treatment. More information can be found at: Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) - Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
While we appreciate the extra burden attending appointments for cancer care can put on individuals and families, we maintain that travel support should be a universal offer based on individual need rather than condition, as other conditions can require regular hospital attendance. We already have a process around travel concessions related to the universal blue badge scheme which is free in Wales. Apply for or renew a Blue Badge - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .
While we do not have any current planned work in relation to expanding the criteria for concessionary travel, we will continue to explore the suitability of our policies based on need and financial resources available.