What you can claim for

Transport

You can claim back the mileage costs of one return car journey a day when travelling to the hospital. If all visitors travel together, you can only one return journey per day. 

Visitors should not make separate travel expenses claims when travelling together in the same vehicle.

On public transport, each person can claim back up to one return journey a day. You must provide receipts for each journey. You can only claim for standard class travel.

Taxis

Travel by taxi will only be considered in certain circumstances. For example, where no public transport is available or a visitor’s medical condition means they cannot travel by public transport.

You need to get your taxi travel approved by the hospital before travelling.

Parking

You can claim back car parking costs in full when you submit the receipts.

Some hospitals offer free parking or a permit for free parking.  You should ask hospital staff if they offer this.

Flights

You should only use air travel when it's cheaper than other transport or when it's the only sensible way. For example, island to mainland travel. The hospital's local NHS Board need to approve any flights before you travel.

Approved flights are limited to a maximum of one return journey per week for each eligible visitor.

Meals

You can claim meals in one of the following ways:

• the hospital may provide meals free of charge from the canteen or patient meals, up to a maximum of 3 meals per day
• the hospital may provide meal tokens or vouchers to eligible visitors to be used in a hospital canteen or similar
• you can claim up to £8.50 per eligible visitor, per day for food and non-alcoholic drinks - this can be purchased outside of hospital grounds

You can specify if you would prefer meals, meal tokens or to claim a contribution of up to £8.50. But you cannot claim for the cost of food if the hospital has already provided meals free of charge or meal tokens.

You should ask the hospital to find out more about local arrangements.

Accommodation

The hospital should be able to give you accommodation if needed.

If hospital accommodation is not possible, you'll get a contribution to reasonable overnight accommodation costs. The hospital need to book the room.

Twins and multiples

If you have twins or multiples in neonatal care or receiving inpatient treatment and they're in the same hospital, you can only claim once a day under the same rules as a single young inpatient.

If you have twins or multiples in different hospitals you can claim expenses once a day for each. To do this you must complete a separate form for each.

Bereavement

If the young inpatient dies prior to discharge, you can still  claim for expenses incurred during the time you spent with them. You canot claim for any expenses incurred after they have been moved to the mortuary, funeral directors or to the family home.

What you cannot claim for

You cannot make a claim from the Young Patients Family Fund for the costs of:

• loss of earnings
• parking fines
• childcare
• car hire
• visitors' expenses
• expenses for other outpatient appointments
• alcoholic drinks