The National Health Service (Travelling Expenses and Remission of Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2003

Payment to persons resident in the Highlands and Islands

7.—(1) A person of the description prescribed in paragraph (3) who is not a person of a description prescribed by regulation 4 is entitled to payment of travelling expenses incurred or to be incurred in making a journey between the person’s normal place of residence in the Highlands and Islands and a hospital in the United Kingdom for the purpose of availing the person of services provided under the care of a hospital consultant in pursuance of the Act, provided that–

(a) the distance travelled from the person’s home (or place of residence while working) to the hospital must be 30 miles or more, or involve a journey by sea of more than 5 miles; and

(b) the travelling expenses are more than £8, and the person makes a contribution of £8 towards the travelling expenses.

(2) The travelling expenses referred to in paragraph (1) include–

(a) those of the return journey; and

(b) those of a companion in a case where it is necessary on medical grounds that the person referred to in paragraph (1) should be accompanied.

(3) Paragraph (1) applies to a person who, at the time when the travelling expenses referred to in paragraph (1) are incurred, is normally resident or working on a long-term basis in the area comprising–

(a) the local government areas of Highland, Western Isles, Orkney Islands and Shetland Islands;

(b) that part of the local government area of Argyll and Bute which is the area of the former Argyll and Bute District Council and the islands of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae; and

(c) in the local government area of Moray, the areas of the former parishes of Aberlour, Cabrach, Dallas, Dyke, Edinkillie, Forres, Inveravon, Kinloss, Kirkmichael, Knockando, Mortlach, Rafford and Rothes.

(4) Where a payment falls to be made under paragraph (1) in respect of travelling expenses, that payment shall be made–

(a) in a case where the travelling expenses are incurred or to be incurred by a person in attending a hospital which is vested in an NHS trust, by that NHS trust; or

(b) in any other case, by the Health Board.