FOI Ref: 0042FOI2021

29^th July 2020

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Request for Information

We are pleased to respond to your request for information and our response is set out below:

Request/ Response 

I am writing to make a request in relation to the matter detailed above. Please disclose all policies, guidance, and instructions, including terms, conditions, eligibility, and format/method of payment, held by Sheffield CCG with regards to:

1. Up-front funding for or reimbursement of travel available for patients and escorts of patients receiving Terminations of Pregnancy, both under nationally-directed schemes and any other provisions;

The criteria for assessing whether patients (including escorts) are eligible for patient transport (including for Termination of Pregnancy) can be found here (https://www.yas.nhs.uk/our-services/patient-transport-service-pts/eligibility/) and is in line with national guidance. However, note that this has been slightly adapted as a result of national Covid-19 guidance and can be found in the attached “Interim Screening for PTS Bookings”. Under our patient transport contract, we pay our transport provider direct for this (not upfront) where transport is booked in accordance with our policy (or if out of area would pay any other providers through national Non Contract Activity under Who Pays Guidance, found here (https://www.england.nhs.uk/who-pays/) 

2. Up-front funding for or reimbursement for overnight stays available of patients and escorts of patients receiving Terminations of Pregnancy;

If a patient is required to stay in hospital or clinic as a result of a Termination in Pregnancy our contracted providers would invoice us in accordance with their contract or if we did not have a contract with them then via Non Contract Activity described in the who pays guidance link above. For individual patient/escort reimbursement we follow national guidance which can be found here (https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs/). This is not upfront.

3. Where different to (1) above, up-front funding for or reimbursement of travel available for patients and escorts of patients receiving non-primary care, both under nationally-directed schemes and any other provisions; and

This has been answered in points 1 and 2 above. In addition transfer from GP surgeries which this is consider urgent but not life threatening (otherwise would be 999) are also covered as part of our patient transport contract.

4. Where different to (2) above, up-front funding for or reimbursement of overnight stays available for patients and escorts of patients receiving non-primary care;

As per point 2 above.

Further, please disclose:

5. The 2020-21Sheffield CCG budget for up-front funding for or reimbursement of travel and overnight stays for patients receiving:

a) Terminations of pregnancy; and

We do not have a specific budget for this. Costs are covered when the activity occurs as indicated in points 1 – 3 above.

b) Non-primary care

Answered in 5a above.