A COMPLAINT against NHS Borders has been thrown out by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
A disgruntled patient – named Mr C –- had claimed the health authority should have paid expenses for two trips to hospitals in England in June and October 2010.
But Jim Martin rejected Mr C’s case. He said: “Our investigation found that the [NHS Borders] board had in fact arranged and paid for Mr C’s travel in June, but that he had chosen to make alternative and unnecessary arrangements for another date.
“We considered that it was reasonable for the board not to reimburse Mr C’s expenses in those circumstances.
“With regard to the October appointment, we found that the board had told Mr C before he travelled that they did not support this treatment and would not refund his expenses.
“As travelling expenses require the approval of the board we did not uphold this complaint.”