Non-Emergency Patient Transportation Service (NEPTS)

The commissioning bodies for this procurement were NHS Herefordshire CCG, NHS Redditch & Bromsgrove CCG, NHS South Worcestershire CCG, NHS Wyre Forest CCG, and Associated Commissioners.

The Department of Health's Guidance 'Eligibility Criteria for Patient Transport Service' (2007) definition of a Patient Transport Service is to provide an NHS funded mechanism for patients with non-emergency, urgent unplanned and planned medical needs to be transported from either their place of residence (or a community/acute NHS healthcare provider location) to a community or acute setting and returned to either their original place of residence or to their new place of residence/healthcare provision.

The above named commissioning bodies were seeking to jointly procure a Non-Emergency Patient Transportation Service (NEPTS) for eligible patients within the local healthcare area that would safely, effectively and sustainably transport eligible patients between their nominated place of residence to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, insupport of their health care.

The key aim of this service is to provide transport for patients with a medical need from a place of residence to community and acute settings and returned to their place (original or new) of residence, in comfort and without detriment to their medical condition.

The commissioning bodies have awarded one contract. The contract duration is five (5) years, with the option to extend for a further two (2) years, subject to agreement.

The date of commencement of the new service is 1st April 2020.

The Service will primarily cover Herefordshire, Worcestershire and central Powys. Aneurin Bevan Local Health Board, NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups are also participants to the contract for smaller volumes of patients.