Patient and Volunteer Support Fund

The support fund is a small grants scheme that can provide up to £500 for patients and volunteers who are experiencing financial hardship.

The support fund is a small grants scheme that can provide up to £500 for patients and volunteers who are experiencing financial hardship, with emergency funding for food, travel and other costs that are incurred because patients require hospital care. 

The fund is open to all patients and volunteers, as well as parents and carers whose children are in hospital. 

The Fund is managed by Leeds Teaching Hospital’s Patient Experience and Safeguarding teams who meet regularly to review applications, with payments made – often very quickly due to need – by Leeds Hospitals Charity.

Funding is available to support people who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of their hospital treatment, admission or care. In broad terms the fund is intended to assist:

  • Patients and their immediate families who have experienced significant change in income or outgoings as a result of their hospital treatment, admission or care and are struggling with their finances
  • Active hospital volunteers who are struggling with their finances
  • Bereaved relatives facing immediate financial pressures until their personal financial affairs are sorted eg weekly bills to meet and no immediate access to bank accounts
  • Patients required to isolate in advance of admission to hospital and suffering income loss, excess cost or other financial hardship as a result.
  • Families/patients suffering hardship as a result of long term in patient care, where the family are central to maintaining the well-being of the patient and/or for example, where the family/patient are struggling with costs associated with accommodation or long distance travel (eg. Neonatal)

Patient and Volunteer Hardship Fund Application 2023 (75kB)

Once completed, please email this form to [email protected]

Alternatively, you may hand it in at any Cashier’s Office or the Bereavement Liaison Office. These are located in Lincoln Wing SJUH or ‘B’ floor Brotherton Wing, LGI.

The form can also be posted to:

Patient and Volunteer Support Fund
FAO – Mr A Wilson
Trust Headquarters, 1st Floor
Nursing Directorate
St James’s Hospital
Leeds, LS9 7TF

The Patient and Volunteer Support Fund has received generous funding thanks to one of Leeds Hospitals Charity’s corporate partners, Lowell, which has enabled the continuation of the Fund.

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

If you’re referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

Find out more on the NHS website: Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS)

Reimbursement of travel expenses

You are entitled to claim travel expenses if you are in receipt of one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support – letter dated within twelve months of appointment must be provided
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance – written confirmation dated  within twelve months of appointment (last page on Award Notice)
  • Pension Credit – Guarantee  – written confirmation dated within  twelve months of appointment
  • Working Tax Credit  – subject to qualification – must produce current Award Notice
  • Universal Credit  – subject to qualification – usually patient has an App on their mobile   
    phone. NIL or earnings up to £435.00 qualify or increases to NIL or earnings up to £935 if the payment is made up of Child Tax element or Ltd Capacity to work. If over these thresholds, patient does not automatically qualify
  • Current HC2/HC3  – must produce Exemption Certificate
  • Income Based Employment and Support Allowance – written confirmation dated within twelve months of appointment (last page on award notice)

Confirmation of appointment must be produced. An attendance slip/voucher can be obtained from the department. Please note: Escorts can only be claimed if you are medically unfit to travel on public transport alone; a letter must be obtained from you GP or Consultant stating you are medically unfit to travel alone.  When both parents are accompanying children only one parent can be paid.

Please note under the Healthcare Travel Expense Scheme taxi payment cannot be paid other than in exceptional circumstances, and must be agreed prior to appointment. If you are medically unfit to travel on public transport, then transport must be arranged via your GP or the department you are attending. You must ensure adequate notice is given to ensure transport is booked accordingly.

The scheme is strictly for patients claiming for treatment or outpatient appointments – hospital visiting cannot be reimbursed.

All appointments must be claimed within three calendar months and all documentation is needed to make a claim.

You can either send a postal claim or take your documentation to can be completed and posted to:

The Cashiers Office,
B Floor, Brotherton Wing,
Leeds General Infirmary

Opening hours: 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 3.30pm Friday. Closed weekends.

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