Recommendation BRIS-142: Prioritise quality and safety for specialist services; fund patient travel and accommodation
From Bristol Heart Inquiry — Final Report, published 18 July 2001.
Recommendation
Where the interests of securing quality of care and the safety of patients require that there be only a small number of centres offering a specialist service, the requirements of quality and safety should prevail over considerations of ease of access. It is and should be the responsibility of the NHS to assist patients, and their families or carers, with the cost of transport and accommodation when they have to travel away from home to receive specialist services. Such support should not be the subject of a means test. (See further Recommendations 181 and 182 on specialist services for children.)
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
DHSC and NHS England say not accepted (27 February 2026)
This recommendation was not accepted by the Government.
Site note: DHSC and NHS England's own account of progress, supplied to the Thirlwall Inquiry in September 2024 and printed in the Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026). It is not a finding of the Inquiry. Their reviewed extent of implementation reads “Not accepted”. Table row: section 6.2 No. 142, PDF page 134-135.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
In its January 2002 response, the Department of Health rejected the proposal to extend the hospital travel costs scheme, but said it would encourage trusts to use their discretionary powers to support families visiting relatives, including children.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 6.2 No. 142, PDF page 118.
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- DHSC and NHS England
Delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding