NHS Herefordshire CCG, NHS Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, NHS South Worcestershire CCG, NHS Wyre Forest CCG, and Associated Commissioners were seeking to jointly procure a non-emergency patient transportation service (NEPTS) for eligible patients within the local health population.

The commissioning bodies 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 total contract value shown at II.1.7) below is for the initial 5-year contract period.

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 procure a non-emergency patient transportation service for the local area that will 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, in support of their health care.

The key aim of this service shall be 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 new service will commence on the 1.4.2020.

The service shall primarily cover Herefordshire, Worcestershire and central Powys. Aneurin Bevan LocalHealth Board, NHS Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Groups shall also be participants to the contract for smaller volumes of patients.

.