Getting to hospital appointments from Potters Bar without driving is very manageable with a little planning: the 243 bus runs from Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital, a volunteer community car can take your parent door to door, and Blue Badge holders can park free at the hospital. Where a parent finds the day tiring or confusing, a companion who goes with them can make the biggest difference of all.
To talk anything through with someone local, our Potters Bar team is on 01707 714 000.
An outpatient letter can land heavily when a parent has stopped driving. The appointment may take twenty minutes, but the journey fills the day.
This guide is about outpatient visits. If your parent is coming home after a ward stay, our article on home care after hospital in Potters Bar covers discharge.
Which bus goes from Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital?
The Uno 243 runs between Hatfield and Barnet Hospital, calling at Welham Green, Brookmans Park, Little Heath and Potters Bar. In Potters Bar it stops at the railway station, Darkes Lane and near Tesco, according to the route listing on bustimes.org. Uno's own timetable shows it running on weekdays as well as Saturdays, so check times there before you travel.
The route changed recently. Intalink, Hertfordshire's bus information service, lists a revised 243 timetable from 13 September 2026, with the route extended to Parkhouse Bus Station in Hatfield. Check the current times on the Intalink service changes page or Uno's timetables before you plan the day, or call Intalink on 0300 123 4050.
Royal Free London lists routes 243, 263, 307 and 384 as stopping at Barnet Hospital itself. Aim for a bus that arrives well before the appointment, and note the return times too.
Hospital appointments from Potters Bar by volunteer car
For a parent who finds buses difficult, the Communities 1st Community Car Scheme offers lifts with volunteer drivers. It covers Hertsmere and Welwyn Hatfield, including Potters Bar, for people with mobility issues or special needs.
The costs, as set out on the Communities 1st community cars page, are:
- Membership of £10 a year, running from September to August.
- 60p per mile, counted from the volunteer driver's house and back again.
- A minimum charge of £5 for journeys of 8 miles or less.
Journeys need booking at least 5 days ahead, on 01727 649980 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm) or at travel@communities1st.org.uk. Passengers must be able to get into the car on their own, as the volunteers are not trained to give physical help. Most cars take a folded wheelchair.
Parking at Barnet Hospital with a Blue Badge
If a family member is driving, Barnet Hospital is on Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ, and the hospital's phone number is 020 8216 4600. The hospital says parking is first come, first served, and a space cannot be guaranteed.
Blue Badge holders park free for the whole visit in any space in the patient and visitor car parks. According to Royal Free London, they must register on each visit, or once every 24 hours, whichever is shorter.
There is a free 20 minute drop-off zone outside the main entrance, step-free access from the car park and lifts to every floor.
The hospital also runs the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, which gives financial help with travel to some patients. Ask the hospital whether your parent may qualify.
When it helps to have someone go along
Getting there is only half of it. For many families, the harder part is inside: the waiting, the questions, and remembering what the consultant said. A companion helps in practical ways:
- Remembering what was said. Where your parent wishes, the key points can be jotted down afterwards so the family hears them accurately.
- Questions prepared. Two or three questions agreed at home are not forgotten in the room.
- Finding the way. Clinics and lifts can confuse someone living with memory problems.
- Getting home. Tiredness sets in on the way back, and a familiar face helps a parent settle.
None of this replaces medical advice. Questions about treatment belong with the hospital team, the GP or a pharmacist, or NHS 111 if something cannot wait.
How our companion carers help with hospital appointments from Potters Bar
Accompanying someone to appointments and outings is part of our companionship care. When a carer goes with a client to hospital, it is a companionship visit agreed in advance with the family, planned around the appointment time and the route home.
Where possible, it is a familiar carer your parent already knows. The visit sits within a care plan agreed with the family, so everyone knows who is going, how they will travel and how the family will hear back.
We are a CQC-regulated home care provider with a local team covering Potters Bar, Brookmans Park, Cuffley and the villages around them. Visiting care is from £34 an hour, and live-in care is from £255 a day. These are starting rates, and a price is agreed after an assessment.
You can reach our Potters Bar team on 01707 714 000 or at pottersbar@starlinghomecare.co.uk, and read more about home care in Potters Bar.
Common questions about hospital appointments from Potters Bar
Does a bus go from Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital?
Yes. The Uno 243 runs through Potters Bar to Barnet Hospital. Its timetable changed from 13 September 2026, so check current times with Intalink or Uno.
Is parking free at Barnet Hospital with a Blue Badge?
Yes. Royal Free London says Blue Badge holders park free in any space in the patient and visitor car parks. The badge holder must register on each visit, or once every 24 hours, whichever is shorter.
How far ahead do we need to book a community car?
The Communities 1st Community Car Scheme asks for at least 5 days' notice. Book on 01727 649980 or at travel@communities1st.org.uk, and remember that passengers need to get into the car without help.
Can a carer come into the appointment?
A companion carer can go with your parent to the appointment. Whether they come into the consulting room is up to your parent and the clinic, and what the carer helps with on the day is agreed in advance with the family.
A hospital letter does not have to mean a difficult day. With the right bus, a booked car or a familiar companion, your parent can get there calmly and come home knowing what happens next.
Details checked against bustimes.org, Uno, Intalink, Royal Free London and Communities 1st pages on 19 October 2026. Our prices are starting rates, checked on the same date.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.