West Yorkshire Patient Transport Services

The current Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) is provided by Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) across West Yorkshire. The current service ends on the 31st March 2024. The service is provided to the following ‘places’ in West Yorkshire: Bradford District & Craven, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield District.

This notice is to advise the intention to directly award a contract to YAS to continue the provision of service with a direct award of an 18-months contract. The extension is to allow the Commissioners to review and remodel the service specification that will complement the delivery and sustainability of the service currently commissioned and in order to clearly articulate future requirements in light of changes to commissioning infrastructure.

This notice completes a process that commenced prior to 1st January 2024 under PCR and NHS Procurement, Patient Choice & Competition Regulations.

Non-Emergency Patient transport (NEPTS) journeys are booked for patients, as part of their episode of care, being moved to and from NHS funded treatment at a range of sites across West Yorkshire including acute hospitals and local venues providing community-based care. The service is responsible for safely and effectively transporting eligible patients, as part of their episode of care, between their nominated place of residence, to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, so that they can receive the health care for which they are scheduled to receive.

This responsibility includes: providing a single point of access and full booking service for patients and HCPs; equitable and consistent application of the eligibility criteria to all patients and carers; signposting patients who are not eligible for PTS to alternative transport arrangements; effective determination of mobility need or needs; allocation of journeys across the sub-contracted transport providers through an equitable, open and transparent process; effective communication and collaboration with system wide stakeholders; coordination and management of all patient journeys; timely reporting to commissioners.

The 18-month contract is to allow the Commissioners to review and remodel the service specification that will complement the delivery of the NEPTS service currently commissioned and in order to clearly articulate future requirements in accordance with NHS England’s national Framework for NEPTS for the future sustainable service in accordance with the national requirements such as net zero targets, integration of services, 24/7 model, and the application of a consistent eligibility criteria.

The additional contractual term will allow for planning a future provider selection process allowing commissioners sufficient time to undertake the relevant engagement with all stakeholders to inform a robust process which will aim to award a new longer term contract whilst ensuring continuity of care for its patient population. The provisional plan is to relaunch in Spring 2025 with the provider selection process and mobilisation resulting in a new service commencing 1st October 2026.