Travel assistance
Available support services to help you getting to and from hospital appointments and visits.
On this page
National Travel Assistance (NTA)
The National Travel Assistance Scheme (NTA) was set up to help people who travel a long way to specialist appointments get some of their travel expenses back.
To be eligible for the reimbursement, you must:
- be referred from one specialist to another, and
- travel a minimum distance or make a minimum number of trips, and
- both specialists must also be part of a publicly funded health and disability support service.
If this sounds like your situation, check if you meet the criteria for an adult, a child or a baby to get some travel expense back through the National Travel Assistance Scheme.
How do I claim?
- Clinic staff will help you register for travel assistance and complete your first claim form.
- Make sure your claim form is signed and stamped by clinic staff for each appointment you attend.
- You must keep receipts for public transport and/or accommodation to support your claim.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible for the reimbursement, you must:
- be referred from one specialist to another, and
- travel a minimum distance or make a minimum number of trips, and
- both specialists must also be part of a publicly funded health and disability support service.
If this sounds like your situation, check if you meet the criteria for an adult, a child or a baby to get some travel expense back through the National Travel Assistance Scheme.
If in doubt, ring the National Travel Assistance helpline 0800 281 222 (press 2).
Hospital transport shuttle services
These are our funded services staffed by volunteers, and are for transport to and from health appointments and admissions. They are sometimes referred to as community health shuttles, community buses or vans, or community health transport providers.
If you are not well or have mobility problems that make it difficult to get to your medical appointment, the St John Health Shuttle can take you for treatment or to visit a specialist or hospital for minor day surgery. This service needs to be booked at least 24 hours in advance
When your appointment is over, the shuttle can be contacted to transport you home again. In return they ask for a donation to help cover the running costs of the Health Shuttle.
The shuttle runs Monday to Friday (except public holidays). Areas covered include Urban Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa, Te Puke and the surrounding centres which include Paengaroa, Pongakawa, Maketu and Pukehina.
To find out more or book a journey:
Call us free on 0800 824 325 or
Email: bophealthshuttle@stjohn.org.nz
This service covers the Papamoa, Mt Maunganui & Tauranga area. The Red Cross Transport Service can be contacted by phoning 578 6987 or call free 0800 733 276 or email us westernbay@redcross.org.nz