Getting to and from North Devon District Hospital by taxi: what to tell us when you book, how to time an appointment, what to do on discharge day, and where to look for help with travel costs.
North Devon District Hospital is the main hospital for the whole of North Devon, so we drive there at every hour of the day and night: clinic appointments, day surgery, discharges, visiting, and staff on their way to and from shifts. This guide covers the practical side. It explains what to tell us, how to time the journey, and what to do when you do not know when you will be leaving.
Where the hospital is
The hospital is at Raleigh Park, Barnstaple, EX31 4JB, on the northern edge of the town. From the centre of Barnstaple it is a short drive. From Bideford, Ilfracombe or South Molton it is a proper journey, so allow for it, especially for a morning appointment.
It is a large site with several entrances. "The hospital" is enough to get you there, but not always enough to get you to the right door.
What to tell us when you book
- Your appointment time, not just a pickup time. We work backwards from it and allow for traffic and the walk from the car.
- The department or ward. We will drop you at the nearest entrance rather than the main one and a long walk.
- Anything that affects getting in and out of the car: walking aids, a folding wheelchair, or whether you would like the driver to help you to the door. If you use a wheelchair, tell us whether it folds. We will tell you honestly whether our cars suit it.
- Whether you need a lift home, and roughly when you expect to finish.
- Whether someone is coming with you, so we send a car with room for everyone.
Getting the timing right
Your appointment letter will say if you need to arrive early, for example to check in or for a test beforehand. Build that into the time you give us. School-run traffic around Barnstaple adds time between roughly 8 and 9am, so an early-morning appointment needs a little more margin than an afternoon one.
Tip: if the appointment really matters (a scan, a procedure, a first consultation) book the day before. Same-day bookings are usually fine, but for those it is not worth the risk.
Going home: clinics that overrun and discharge day
Clinics run late, and discharge times are almost never known in advance. Rather than booking a fixed time to be collected, tell us roughly when you expect to finish and call us when you are ready. We would rather hold the booking loosely than leave you waiting outside or watching the clock in the waiting room.
On discharge day the wait is usually for paperwork or medicines from the pharmacy. Call once the ward has told you that you are going home. If you need to collect a prescription on the way out, say so and the driver will wait.
Parking versus a taxi
The hospital car parks are busy, particularly during afternoon visiting, and charges apply. For a long appointment or a day of visiting the parking adds up, and two or three people sharing a taxi can cost little more. Check the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's website for current parking charges and any concessions you may qualify for.
Help with the cost of travel
Two NHS schemes are worth knowing about:
- Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme. If you receive certain benefits or have a low income, you may be able to claim back the cost of travelling to NHS appointments you have been referred to. It normally covers the cheapest suitable way to travel, so a taxi is usually only covered when you cannot reasonably use public transport or drive. Ask the hospital before you travel, and keep your receipt.
- Non-emergency patient transport. If a medical condition means you cannot travel any other way, you may be eligible for NHS patient transport. Ask your GP or the department that booked your appointment.
Hospital staff and shift work
A large share of our night work is hospital staff going on and off shift after the buses have stopped. If you work a regular pattern, we can set up a standing booking so you are not re-explaining it every week, and an account if you would rather not pay in the car each time. See our hospital taxi page for more.
In an emergency
A taxi is not an ambulance. If someone is seriously ill or injured, call 999. For urgent medical help that is not an emergency, call NHS 111, who can tell you where to go and how quickly.
For everything else, you can book a hospital taxi online or call us at any hour.
