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Can you help me with Travel Costs?

If your baby or babies are being cared for in the Neonatal Unit, we know that there’s likely many different things on your mind right now, and we don’t think that travel costs should be an extra worry. They definitely should not get in the way of you being able to visit your baby. Tiny Lives offers several solutions to aid with travel costs:

Parking Permits

Parking Logo

 

Tiny Lives fund a parking permit, free of charge, for each family with a child/ren currently on Ward 35 of the RVI Newcastle, regardless of financial circumstances.

Parking permits may be issued to parents or a ‘nominated driver’, e.g. a grandparent who will be providing regular transport.

Talk to the nurse caring for your baby for more information or download the full information leaflet below:

Tiny Lives Parking Permit Information

 

Tiny Lives Transport Scheme

 

If you do not drive and have no access to a nominated driver, it may be possible for Tiny Lives to assist you with travel costs, rather than supplying a parking permit. This can include reimbursing costs on local public transport (Bus/Metro), or providing a pass for these. Please note that taxi costs can not be refunded.

If you would like to discuss this please ask a member of the nursing team to contact Fiona, the unit Social Worker, who will then meet with you privately.

Help For Families Transferred Out of the RVI

 

Tiny Lives Parents Travel Fund has been set up to assist RVI-booked parents with travel costs between their home and hospital(s) within the North East. The fund supports parents:

  • Who were booked at the RVI and whose baby was transferred out at birth to another hospital
  • Who were booked at the RVI and were transferred to another hospital for on-going care or specialist care after not able to be delivered at the RVI.

You can download a form below:

Travel Form for Parents Transferred Out of the RVI

If you would like a hard copy of the form posted to you, please either email us on info@tinylives.org.uk or call us on 0191 230 2112, or ask the transport team if they’re able to give you a hard copy.

Blue Badge Parking Scheme

Blue badge

 

In certain circumstances a parent of a child who is under 3 years old may apply for a blue badge:

“A parent of a child who is less than three years old may apply for a badge for their child if the child has a specific medical condition which means that they:

a. must always be accompanied by bulky medical equipment which cannot be carried around without great difficulty; and/or

b. need to be kept near a vehicle at all times, so that they can, if necessary, be treated in the vehicle, or quickly driven to a place where they can be treated, such as a hospital.”

This may be helpful for you, and you can see below for further guidance: