Hi,

Not strictly a benefits query but I'm scratching my head at the moment.
I have a client who has just given birth to a premature baby (23 weeks). The baby was born at the Leicester General but then transferred to Birmingham where the nearest specialist bed was available. She is on Matenity Leave and in receipt of CTC and CB, her partner is self employed but effectively on a nil income. They are struggling financially with the cost of travelling back and forth, can't access the Social Fund and have been told by the Hospitals in Leicester and Birmingham that they can't help as such assistance is the responsibility of the other hospital!

I'm considering approaching charitable organisations such as the neo natal trust but if there's statutory help available this should be the first resort.

Has anyone encountered this sort of problem? and what help if any should be provided by the NHS? What other sources of assistance are available?

Matt Finch
Welfare Rights Officer
Leicester City Council

As far as I am aware the scheme for reimbursing the costs of travelling to hospital applies only to patients and any person who is reasonably acting as an escort, not to visitors. It's basically for travelling for treatment. A Google search on the topic threw up some recent correspondence in the Independent on the topic - there seems to be a campaign to get it extended to the parents of hospital inpatients. It looks as if a charity is the best bet.

If you got to www.dh.gov.uk you can search for the DoH policy document on travel costs.

As an alternative option, most hospitals provide family accommodation which is available to close relatives who would otherwise have to travel great distances. Quite often it's in the Nurses' Residence and may include kitchen and laundry facilities. The charge is usually minimal.

She should ask to see the hospital social worker/accommodation officer.