Travel2Care: help getting to cancer tests and treatment

It is a limited fund, so apply early. For treatment, ask your medical social worker or cancer nurse for Form B. You can also ask about the Irish Cancer Society's free volunteer driving service.

Who can get it — the full rules

You must live permanently in Ireland and have a genuine financial need. You must "Have to travel over 30km to a designated cancer centre (see list of hospitals covered below), approved centres or approved children’s hospital." The trip must be for assessment, diagnosis, surgery or active treatment. For radiotherapy at the Whitfield Clinic in Waterford, the limit is 50km and you must be a public patient.

For treatment, you must be on current, active treatment, or have finished it within the 8 weeks before you apply.

What it pays

"Travel2Care is a limited transportation assistance fund for patients who are having difficulty getting to and from their appointments for diagnostic tests or cancer treatment." "The amount awarded will depend on the patient’s treatment plan and method of transport." "Travel2Care is made available by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP)."

How to apply

For cancer tests, download Form A from the Irish Cancer Society website and send it with photo ID by email to financialsupport@irishcancer.ie or by post. "Travel2Care Form B is for ongoing treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or palliative care) and is available only from a healthcare professional within your designated centre, such as a medical social worker or your cancer nurse."

"All applications, cancer tests and ongoing treatment, take 10 working days to be processed from the date all required information has been received."

Common questions

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