Following a thorough procurement process, a preferred bidder (Arriva Passenger Services Limited) has now been selected to provide non-emergency patient transport services in Gloucestershire.
Subject to contract, patients who have a non-emergency medical need and require help with transport to reach their hospital appointment will benefit from a high quality service with extended hours from late Autumn this year.
During 2012, organisations were invited to tender for a five year contract to co-ordinate all non-emergency patient transport services.
Arriva Passenger Services Limited has now been selected to run services in Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.
As part of the contract specification, the service will run 24 hours, 7 days a week, which is an extension of existing services with some only running Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.
Subject to contract, the service will run a single access centre which will provide a convenient booking and enquiries service.
Through the use of modern technology and systems, the service will be able to manage demand for patient transport efficiently and will co-ordinate and provide journeys in and out of county.
The service will offer flexibility to respond to changing needs e.g. new healthcare locations, on the day requests and flexible times for pick up and returning home including evenings and weekends.
The single access centre will also provide information and advice for those patients who do not meet the current Department of Health eligibility criteria. This will include signposting to alternative transport options, including voluntary and community providers.
Chair of NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Helen Miller said:
“We want to ensure that patients who are eligible can access the very best service which can meet their specific medical and mobility needs. We want them to experience safe, timely, clean and comfortable transport.
Subject to contract, there will be one organisation responsible for co-ordinating all non-emergency patient transport and this should help to deliver a consistent and joined up service for the individual.”