Transport Access People (TAP) is community transport that provides a safely coordinated, cost effective community transport service throughout Cornwall, Devon and the Isles of Scilly.

TAP is a subsidiary of AGE UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly. They arrange transport for people who have non-emergency healthcare appointments and have difficulty accessing other forms of public transport. Buzza Bus a special dial-a-ride service on St. Mary's that has mobility/wheelchair access. This service can be used by children and young people with mobility difficulties.

You will need to register first by calling 01872 266 887 and then you will be able to make advance bookings and contact the driver at short notice on the mobile number 07810 747369.

To find out further details please visit the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/social-care-health/concessionary-travel/buzza-bus The bus is accessible with steps and handrail and is suitable for wheelchair transport. (Please give sufficient notice when booking for this, as seats need to be removed). The driver is happy to assist you to and from door to bus and to help with seat belts where necessary.

If you live off Island and your child or young person meets the criteria for the disability eligibility then they may be entitled to concessionary boat fare. This is 52 single fare vouchers. In addition, four Health Special Passes are issued for reaching health appointments outside standard boating times. You must get confirmation that you meet eligibility before booking travel and concessions are restricted to certain boats.

Currently there are a number of boat service operators offering trips between the inhabited islands.

If you have any accessibility needs because of any SEN and disabilities then it is best to contact the boat operators directly to see how they can be of assistance.

For further details about the concessionary boat scheme and how to apply, please visit the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/health-social-care/concessionary-travel/concessionary-boat-scheme

Although the Isles of Scilly Council doesn’t run a ‘local’ bus and the community bus won’t accept bus passes you can use a national bus pass when visiting the mainland. If you meet the ‘eligible disabled’ criteria then you may apply for a National Bus Pass. Find out more on the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/social-care-health/concessionary-travel/national-bus-pass

The ’eligible disabled’ criteria for a National Bus Pass and Concessionary Boat travel means you are: blind or partially sighted; profoundly or severely deaf; without speech; have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term effect on your ability to walk; don’t have arms or have long-term loss of the use of both arms; have a learning disability. You are also ‘eligible disabled’ if your application for a driving licence would be refused under section 92 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (physical fitness). However, you won’t be eligible if you were refused because of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

A blue badge (Disabled Person’s Parking) is a national scheme for disabled people, it allows concessions and privileges in relation to parking. For example a disabled person able to park nearer to their destinations and allows holders to park without charge or time limit in otherwise restricted areas. You can find out more about eligibility criteria and how to apply for a blue badge on the Council of the Isles of Scilly website: www.scilly.gov.uk/health-social-care/disabled-persons-blue-badge

Note that people with Autism may also qualify for a blue badge the National Autistic Society has further information about driving: www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/transport/driving/england

Motability is a national charity which oversees the motability scheme and may be able to provide charitable grants to disabled people who would otherwise be unable to afford the vehicle, adaptation or driving lessons. The Motability Scheme can help you lease a car if your child is aged 3 or over and is entitled to either the:

• Higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance

• Enhanced mobility component of Personal Independence Payment

More information about the scheme can be found on the Motability website: www.motability.co.uk

Cornwall Mobility can also offer advice, assessments and adaptations for transport and at home. Cornwall Mobility website: www.cornwallmobility.co.uk

Further information

Access to work Gov.uk website: www.gov.uk/access-to-work

Financial support if you are disabled: www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vehicles-and-transport

There are different options available for travel between the Mainland and Scilly. Please go direct to the travel operators for up to date information and let them know of support that you require at the time of booking.

Isles of Scilly Travel run planes all year round from several South West airports and the Scillonian from Penzance March - October.

Please visit the Isles of Scilly travel website for more about their accessibility services: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/plan-your-trip/special-assistance-and-accessibility and further information on medical travel bookings: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/islander-news-and-booking/nhs-transport-bookings

Penzance Helicopters run a helicopter service from Penzance. To find out about their accessibility visit their FAQs on their website where you can also download a mobility form: www.penzancehelicopters.co.uk

If you are an Isles of Scilly resident and have a medical appointment on the mainland then you can book your travel through the NHS centralised booking service. Special arrangements are in place for residents of the Isles of Scilly who only have to pay £5 towards the cost of NHS funded patient transport to the mainland, please note that you are required to meet eligibility criteria.​

Travel to the mainland can be either by boat or air transport. You will need to cover other travel costs from this point and air transport is only be available to Land’s End airport. You will need to book your travel from the airport and if you are using the Isles of Scilly Travel Shuttle bus, pay for this service.

Please note that this is for appointments only where you have been referred, known as secondary care. In most cases you will have received an appointment letter and will need to provide information about your appointment when booking your travel. It is helpful if you have considered your travel plans before contacting the Patient Transport office by checking availability of flights and whether you are able to get to your appointment and back in a day.

For further information visit the NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly website: ios.icb.nhs.uk/health/patient-transport

​Off islands

​Residents of the off islands are entitled to the off island element when travelling to the mainland for NHS funded treatment. Patients will be issued with a reference number for the off island element of their travel when they call the Centralised Booking Service at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust on 01872 252211. Patients travelling to the mainland and back in the same day will be entitled to the reimbursement of either a Scheduled boat fare or a Special boat fare dependant on the time of their travel. Please note that a reference code is required before booking boat travel.

Eligibility and exclusions

​For information on eligibility and exclusions please see page 11 onwards of NHS Kernow Non-emergency medical travel policy document, download from the RCHT website: https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/KernowCCG/OurOrganisation/Policies/NHSFundedTransportPolicy.pdf

Escorts for children under 16 years of age

​Escorts for medical travel is based on strict criteria and only one relative escort is permitted for children under 16 years.

Please see the NHS Kernow Non-emergency medical travel policy document for guidance, :hi can be downloaded from the RCHT website: https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/KernowCCG/OurOrganisation/Policies/NHSFundedTransportPolicy.pdf

Return travel

Patients attending for NHS funded services not requiring an inpatient stay must book their return travel at the same time as their outbound travel.

Patients travelling with an escort are required to complete their return journey within 72 hours of their outbound journey. Please note that the 72 hour calculation does not include Sundays as flights and sailings do not operate.

Where a patient cannot book their return travel due to being an inpatient with an unknown discharge date, they, or their representative, should telephone the Centralised Booking Service at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust on 01872 252211 as soon as the discharge date is known.

Adverse weather conditions

​If a patient (and escort where applicable) is not able to undertake the inbound leg (Mainland to Isles of Scilly) of their NHS funded patient transport journey, due to weather conditions, accommodation costs on the mainland are not paid. Local arrangements have been put in place with Volunteer Cornwall for assistance with transport and accommodation should any vulnerable patient get stranded on the mainland. Volunteer Cornwall can be contacted for this purpose via the Centralised Booking Service at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust on 01872 252211. The costs for these services will be borne by the patient.

Help with NHS Travel Costs

​ If you are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits there may be help with medical travel under the NHS Help with Healthcare Costs. This helps with the cost of a number of services including travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).

For more information on HTCS please visits the NHS website: www: .nhs.uk/nhs-services/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs

How to Contact Patient Transport Office

RCHT Patient Transport Office: 01872 252211 Select option 2 for Isles of Scilly residents

Note: Option 2 is available for Isles of Scilly residents Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 1.30pm

The main number is open 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday 9.30 – 5pm Saturday and Sunday.

Email: rch-tr.PatientTransport@nhs.net

NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly: cios.icb.nhs.uk/health/patient-transport/

NHS Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Non-emergency medical travel policy: https://doclibrary-rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk/DocumentsLibrary/KernowCCG/OurOrganisation/Policies/NHSFundedTransportPolicy.pdf

​NHS Help with healthcare costs: www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs

Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS): www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/help-with-health-costs/healthcare-travel-costs-scheme-htcs

Age UK: www.ageuk.org.uk/cornwall/our-services/transport-services

Volunteer Cornwall: www.volunteercornwall.org.uk/transport

Transport for Cornwall: www.transportforcornwall.co.uk

For information about travel around Cornwall with links to travel operators.

Travel Line South West: www.travelinesw.com

For information about travel around the South West, Travel Line has an app and website with lots of information and routes when using public transport.

First Bus: www.firstbus.co.uk

GWR: www.gwr.com

Disabled Persons Railcard: www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk