Agenda item - Non-Emergency Patient Transport (PTS) Contract for Sussex

Report of the Executive Director, Governance, People & Resources (copy attached)

26.1    This item was introduced by Colin Simmons, Associate Director IUC Programme, NHS Sussex.

26.2    Mr Simmons outlined the new Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPTS) contract model, explaining that the contract will deliver:

·         Improved signposting for people who are not eligible for NEPTS

·         A service that better meets the patients transport needs of hospitals

·         A system that takes full advantage of recent improvements in digital technology

·         A service that is more accessible and flexible for service users

·         An ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions, with a clear route to an electric fleet.

·         The contract will be awarded in March 2024, and following a 12 month mobilisation period, will go live on 01 April 2025.

26.3    In response to a question from Cllr Asaduzzaman on how NEPTS will be publicised, Mr Simmons told the committee that the new contract will provide a single point of contact for public enquiries. Where people are not eligible for NEPTS, they will be signposted to other services.

26.4    In reply to a question from Cllr Hill on what has been learnt from the failure of the 2016 NEPTS contract, members were told that commissioners have learnt that the contract has to be the correct size, that communication with acute providers and with community groups is vital, that there needs to be effective dialogue with the provider market, and that there needs to be proper scrutiny of all bidders. The tender has received multiple bids.

26.5    In response to a question from Cllr Nann on whether there is a ‘plan B’ in case of contact failure, the committee was told that the fact that there have been multiple credible bids means that there is a built-in plan B as there are alternative providers available.

26.6    Geoffrey Bowden commended the NEPTS commissioners for having accepted and acted on every recommendation from the Healthwatch report on the failure of the 2016 contract. This has meant that the tender for the new contract is a much more robust process.

26.7    Cllr Wilkinson expressed disappointment that the HOSC had not been involved at an early stage in the development of the new NEPTS model. Mr Simmons responded that he was unsure why this was, but would be very happy to come back to the next HOSC meeting to discuss mobilisation plans.

26.8    In response to a question from the Chair on how the new service would avoid unnecessarily lengthy patient journey times due to multiple drop-offs, members were told that the new provider will be required to plan routes carefully to minimise patient inconvenience. There are powerful digital tools available to support this.

26.9    In response to a query from the Chair on the use of digital technology, the committee was told that the new service would need to use digital technology intelligently, but also to provide an accessible service for those who are digitally excluded.

26.10  The Chair thanked Mr Simmons for his presentation and invited him to attend the next HOSC meeting to update the committee on the contract award and to discuss mobilisation plans.

26.11  RESOLVED – that the report be noted.