1. The Hospital Travel Costs scheme is for hospital only appointments and is for people with a low income or on certain benefits including Universal Credit. There are criteria for the type of transport reimbursed. The claimant must pay first then can get a refund from the cash office in the hospital. For more information on hospital transport, travel and parking, please visit: Transport, Travel and Parking - Information for Patients and Visitors - NHSGGC

2. Young Patients Family Fund covers travel and subsistence costs for those who have family members who are in-patients in hospitals.

3. Patient Transport Service for patients who have a medical condition or mobility need that requires ambulance transport to get to their healthcare appointment. The service is available to take patients to and from pre-arranged hospital appointments, or for admission and discharge to hospital.

4. There is a National Entitlement Card for people with disabilities who are entitled to have a companion travel with them on the same journey. Companion travel is charged at a reduced rate. To apply call SPT on 0141 333 3211 or Concessions | SPT | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport

5. The MyBus scheme provides a drop off and pick up service for those accessing health appointments - MyBus | SPT | Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. Please note that there is currently a reduced and restricted service.

6. There is the National Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel scheme, support may be required to access this, it’s for all children and young people aged 5-22 in Scotland

https://www.mygov.scot/under-22s-bus-pass.

For children aged 5-10 years application can be made at parentsportal | parentsportal.scot

For applications aged 11-21 years applications can be made at getyournec.scot

Libraries can help with the application and verification of evidence, they can also advise on those already with/eligible for a Young Scot card. There is support available through schools also.

Poverty and low income can make it more likely for someone to develop a health problem and can hinder a person’s ability to manage their health conditions and follow treatment advice. Poverty has a significant impact on the NHS and social care in the UK, estimated at £29bn per year. [1]

The current cost of living crisis means many people are finding it even harder than before to make ends meet. We define poverty as being when a person or household is unable to cover the cost of living. This might mean not being able to heat your home, pay your bills or buy the essentials for your children. [2]

The following video, I live in real poverty and it's not what you think, explains this well:

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has some of the highest rates of poverty and deprivation in the country. 28% of children in Glasgow City live in relative low income families- this is higher than anywhere else in Scotland. [3]

[1] Poverty and the health and care system | The King's Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

[2] What is poverty? | JRF

[3] Income Deprivation | The Glasgow Indicators Project (understandingglasgow.com)

Across our hospital sites we run money advice and financial inclusion service partnerships with a range of providers. These are holistic services which can help people with their financial wellbeing in a range of ways, for example supporting access to social security benefits, help with home energy costs and debts, and help to apply for charitable supports and grants.

It’s important to bear in mind that people’s circumstances can change over time. Someone who says they don’t want any money advice support might change their mind the next time they are asked. People often do not wish to share that they are experiencing problems but could benefit from knowing where to go for advice.

We run fully confidential money advice partnership services at the following hospitals for people using our services. You can make a referral to any of the below listed hospitals- excluding the Royal Hospital for Children. Please use the following form to do this:

Hospital Money Advice Partnership Service Referral Form

Glasgow Royal Infirmary –Money Advice Service

ggc.moneyadvice@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Or for patients who are homeless or at risk:

ci.homeless.outreach@nhs.scot

Inverclyde Royal Hospital – Inverclyde Advice First

triage.advice@inverclyde.gov.uk

New Victoria – Money Advice Service

ggc.moneyadvice@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital – GEMAP Money Advice Service

ggc.moneyadvice@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Royal Alexandria Hospital – Renfrewshire Advice Works

adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk

Royal Hospital for Children

RHC.MoneyAdviceService@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Stobhill Hospital – Money Advice Service

ggc.moneyadvice@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Vale of Leven District General Hospital – Citizens Advice Partnership

ggc.moneyadvice@nhs.scot

Alternatively, patients can be referred to any of these services via our hospital Support and Information Services, or the Family support and Information Service.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde run a partnership with Money Matters to offer all hospital patients a home energy crisis response service. This service helps patients who are unable or have difficulty paying for heat or electricity for their home.

Patients can access this service via the hospital Support and Information Services. Staff can also contact the hospital Support and Information Services on the patient’s behalf.

People diagnosed with a new health condition, or parents with a child who needs to attend hospital as an inpatient or outpatient, may be newly entitled to certain benefits.

At present the benefits system in Scotland is administered by both the Department of Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland:

Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Hospital Helpline

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operate a partnership with the DWP to provide hospital patients who are clients of the DWP quick and direct access to advice and support. To discuss benefits, appointments or any other DWP related enquiries, please contact staff from the DWP between the hours 10:00am to 14:00 Monday to Friday on any of the following numbers:

Jacky Kean 07920812160

Laura Ferguson 07920796431

Gordon Wallace 07788708753

Patients that are not currently clients of the DWP can find out more about the range of benefits they may be entitled to at the following link DWP - Benefits

People diagnosed with a new health condition, or parents with a child who needs to attend hospital as an inpatient or outpatient, may be newly entitled to certain benefits.

At present the benefits system in Scotland is administered by both the Department of Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland:

Social Security Scotland (SSS)

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also have a partnership with Social Security Scotland to support patients applying for Adult Disability Payment. Advisors from Social Security Scotland operate a regular drop-in service for patients in Stobhill and Queen Elizabeth University Hospitals. For more information, please contact the hospital Support and Information Services.

Information on Child Disability Payment, Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant and Foods and a range of carer’s benefits can be found on the Social Security Scotland website: SSS - Benefits.

There is a Scottish Government online portal offering advice on managing debt, claiming benefits, and paying bills. It also highlights support available for families, older people, people with disabilities and carers as well as resources to support mental health: Cost of Living Support Scotland

Find out more about eligibility for benefits and charitable grants by visiting the Turn 2 Us website: Tackling Financial Insecurity Together | Turn2us.

Financial support following bereavement: Death - mygov.scot.