The Department of Health defines non-emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) as the ‘non-urgent, planned, transportation of patients with a medical need for transport to and from a premises providing NHS healthcare and between NHS healthcare providers’.

This encompasses a wide range of vehicle types and levels of care.

Devon is the third largest county in England, covering 2 534 square miles. The county has over 750 000 residents, with a higher proportion of older people than the national average. It is also 1 of the most sparsely populated counties, with few large settlements and a dispersed rural population. The transport network is limited which results in considerable travel times, proving a barrier to access for many residents and an operational challenge for Providers.

The NEPTS contract spans the area covered by Devon County which includes 1 local authority, 2 Clinical Commissioning Groups (NHS South Devon and Torbay CCG and NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon CCG) and 4 acute providers.

New Devon CCG is actively partnering with Devon County Council in a 3 year Total Transport Project, which will be examining synergies between the different strands of public-sector transport in Devon. Patient Transport in Devon is an integral part of that work and providers will be part of the multi-organisational Transport Forum chaired by Devon County Council.

We are seeking to tender the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) for all patients registered with a Devon GP. In constructing the tender we have taken steps to ensure that there is an attractive, clear and robust specification and workload for bidders to respond to.

— We have removed the bulk high volume car-journeys from the system by looking to let the Frequent-Attendees Car Service as a separate lot through Devon County Council's Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

— We have focused the NEPTS contract on the core ‘traditional’ PTS workload looking to utilise multi-use vehicles to deliver an efficient and effective service.

— Out of area patients and the smaller volumes between midnight and 7:00 will be let outside of the main NEPTS contract, through DPS, allowing bidders to choose whether they wish to add these parts onto the main NEPTS contract or not.

— A booking service in partnership with the Local Authority will deal with initial contact from the public and manage the first line of authorisation and eligibility.

We are actively seeking flexible and solution-orientated companies who are keen to make a positive mark in the NEPTS market.

Our 3 key success factors to achieve from this procurement are:

1. Provision of a quality, flexible and responsive service;

2. Excellent communication to establish strong relationships with key stakeholders;

3. Sustainability. We want to work with a provider who will become our partner in delivery of an improved system.

Further insight about the pressures we face, the challenges and the key drivers that move us can be found here in the joint strategic needs assessments for both CCGS.

NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Joint Strategic Needs Assessment.

http://www.devonhealthandwellbeing.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/JSNA_Devon_Overview_2015.pdf

Torbay and South Devon CCG Joint Strategy Needs Assessment.

http://www.southdevonandtorbayccg.nhs.uk/resources/Documents/bcf-14-south-devon-and-torbay-joint-strategic-needs-assessment-jsna.pdf

Full details of the specification, activity, scope and requirements can be found in the specification.