Concerns have been raised about the closure of the cashier’s office at the Friarage Hospital.
One of the duties of the office before its closure was to refund patients who were on certain benefits and could claim back their travelling expenses to hospital.
Patients will now need to fill in a form, post it and them wait to be paid by cheque.
Holly Wilkinson, from the Save the Friarage campaign group, said it could potentially pout patients off travelling to hospital for treatment.
“It’s going to now be a real pain for people
“Instead of getting your money there and then you’ve got to post your form, together with proof of the benefit, and wait for them to send you money.
“It;s going to put people people off going to hospital.”
Jill McMullon, chair of Hawes and High Abbotside Parish Council, said she had contacted by a hospital user raising concerns about the closure.
She said: “It’s taking away yet another service. They may think the important things are the A&E and other departments but the services like the cashier are very important too.
“It’s just another nail in the coffin of the hospital and whoever is the new MP after December 12 needs to say what they going to do because enough is enough.”
A spokesperson for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “All patient facing cashiers services for South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are now based at the cashiers office near north entrance at the James Cook University Hospital.
“Patients attending trust services at other hospital sites, who are eligible to reclaim travelling expenses, can
submit their forms by post and be reimbursed by cheque.
“Patients will need to obtain and complete a HC5 postal claim form. These can be downloaded from
www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/healthcosts.
“Patient facing cashiers services are no longer offered at the Friarage Hospital due to the low numbers of
people using the service.”
For more details visit southtees.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/patient-transport/help-travel-costs/
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