PATIENTS have seen the cost of transport to hospital increase dramatically following a review by a health trust West Herts Hospitals Trust offers a voluntary services transport scheme under which volunteers give patients a lift to hospital and have their

PATIENTS have seen the cost of transport to hospital increase dramatically following a review by a health trust

West Herts Hospitals Trust offers a voluntary services transport scheme under which volunteers give patients a lift to hospital and have their fuel costs reimbursed.

Patients were being charged 45p per mile or a minimum charge of £2 for a return journey to cover the cost of fuel. But last Saturday the trust raised the price to 60p per mile or a minimum fee of £5 for a return journey to cover the rising prices.

A spokesperson for the trust said they ran the volunteer scheme for patients who fell outside the Patient Transport Service which takes people - primarily those with mobility problems - to hospital in an ambulance. The trust had reviewed the scheme and had increased the charges to cover the costs of running it.