This is a patient transport service for non-urgent, planned journeys .
NHS Somerset has successfully concluded a procurement exercise, awarding a 5-year contract to EMED Patient Care for the non-emergency patient transport service to go live on 1 October 2023. EMED, which is an independent sector provider of Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS), has an extensive track record in patient transport.
This new, non-emergency patient transport service is tailored to individuals with higher level mobility requirements, who need help with transport to get to their hospital appointments. Eligibility criteria apply, and patients must be registered with a Somerset GP.
Primarily serving outpatient appointments, admissions, day case attendances, and renal dialysis treatments across various care settings, EMED anticipates over 21,000 patient journeys annually.
Operating hours will mirror the previous contract, providing service from 06:00 to midnight, seven days a week, including bank holidays. The booking process remains unchanged. Patients or carers can contact the Patient Transport Advice Centre on 01278 727444 between 08:30 and 18:30.
Craig Smith, CEO of EMED Group, said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting NHS Somerset with this new service, where planned and unplanned journeys are separated to create a better patient experience and smoother patient flows through the discharge and care pathways.”
The non-emergency patient transport service goes live on 1 October 2023 and will be delivered by EMED Patient care from their main bases near Taunton and Shepton Mallet engaging 69 crew members and 22 ambulances.
