Contract award for patient transport service

Friday 27^th March 2015 – 4.30pm – Chris Kowalik in conjunction with NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group

The contract to transport thousands of clinically eligible patients to and from routine hospital appointments in Worcestershire has now been awarded.

The existing provider of PTS services, West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) will begin to provide the enhanced, 7 day service which transports over 82,000 people per year from Wednesday 1st April 2015.

The Patient Transport Service is in place for patients with a medical need requiring transport to and from premises providing NHS healthcare and between NHS healthcare providers. For example an individual may need to be transported lying down or to have oxygen while travelling.

Before the procurement process began, patients and stakeholders were asked through a survey and at public meetings to provide their experiences of using the service and what improvements they wanted to see from the service.

Following the feedback, the three Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Worcestershire have been able to develop a contract to offer a more timely and joined up service, to provide the best possible service across the county.

Chris Emerson, Head of Commissioning and Service Redesign for the three Worcestershire CCGs said: “This is a very important service for many people across Worcestershire who because of clinical circumstance require transport assistance to and from healthcare facilities. The enhanced service will provide a more responsive and cohesive service both to patients and healthcare professionals who book transport for their patients.

“We very much look forward to working with WMAS to ensure that the thousands of patients who use the Patient Transport Service every year have access to a high quality dynamic service.”

WMAS Trust Chief Executive Anthony Marsh said: “It is very encouraging to have won a contract in what is a tough market place. I am delighted for all our staff and I am sure we will continue to provide an excellence service to the people of the county.”

Ends