North West Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service

The existing five non-emergency patient transport service (PTS) contracts in the North West (NW) region are expired on 30th June 2016. NHS Blackpool CCG Ambulance Commissioning is co-ordinating the re-commissioning of these services, on behalf of the 33 NW CCGs. NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) is an agent of the Lead Commissioner, and are acting on their behalf to carry out the Procurement of the Service. This exercise will took place under an open, fair and transparent procurement process, designed to allow all potential providers or consortia, the opportunity to demonstrate approaches by which they would deliver safe, reliable and cost-effective patient transport services to eligible patients in the North West. The eligibility of patients for this service is determined by the Department of Health Eligibility Criteria.

Additional information: The key strategic objectives of the procurement and subsequent service to be delivered were to: • Satisfy CCG's responsibility for the provision of suitable transport for eligible patients • Ensure patients equity of access to healthcare • Deliver measureable improvements in patient experience • Obtain best value for money PTS comprises the movement of patients whose condition is not considered an 'emergency' between patients' homes, hospitals, community settings or other treatment centres, for people referred for consultations, treatments or procedures. This can and should encompass a wide range of vehicle types and levels of care consistent with the patients' medical need(s). The procurement was split into the 5 Lots for each of the Commissioners and Bidders were able to bid for 1,2,3,4 or all 5 Lots. The Lots are as detailed below: • Lot 1 - Patient Transport Service for NHS Cumbria • Lot 2 - Patient Transport Service for NHS Lancashire • Lot 3 - Patient Transport Service for NHS Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral • Lot 4 - Patient Transport Service for NHS Merseyside • Lot 5 - Patient Transport Service for NHS Greater Manchester