Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services - North East Essex

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) provision within the North East Essex Alliance footprints. The service is to be provided to all eligible patients, as per NHS E's eligibility criteria.

NEPTS comprises the movement of patients whose condition is not considered an 'emergency' and who can, therefore, travel in an ambulance vehicle specified to a lower level of medical provision, or, indeed, a car.

NEPTS are typified by 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.

NEPTS are a key enabler underpinning access to elective care and supporting timely and efficient discharge processes for acute and community providers. Continuity of provision is important for the system to maintain patient flow and stability.

The length of the contract is two years as this allows the necessary time to complete a complex procurement and allow one year for mobilisation, as requested by providers. This also ensures stability of provision whilst procuring and prevents additional interim running costs, and the potential for high service transfer costs for a short contract period.

NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board are awarding the contract named within this notice due to an urgent circumstance which is outlined within the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.