New Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service Launches in Sussex
What’s new?
Patients, carers and hospital staff will be able to book transport through EMED Patient Care on 0300 777 4444.
On the EMED website you can find information about:
- Who EMED are
- Who is eligible for the NEPTS service
- How to book transport
- Contact details for providing comments, compliments or concerns.
Patients can also access general service information and answers to frequently asked questions, as well as leaflets (including easy read versions), at www.emedgroup.co.uk/sussex.
What about existing bookings?
Any existing NEPTS bookings with the previous provider (SCAS) will automatically move across to EMED.
However, it is important if your circumstances change, that you notify EMED asap on 0300 777 4444
James Ramsay, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Sussex, said:
“This new service will offer a range of benefits to people living across Sussex who need help and support to get to and from important NHS appointments.
“We know how vital this service is for local people and for the services that it helps to run smoothly – getting people to hospitals on time and leaving when they are ready – and we have been working closely with EMED for a year to ensure all arrangements are in place for next week.
“People should continue to use the existing service this week and any bookings that they have arranged, and they will be advised by their healthcare team of the new service details as it goes live next Tuesday.”
Extensive engagement with people who use current services, clinicians, Healthwatch in Sussex, and our acute, mental health and community hospital trusts, all helped to shape the new service, as well as the latest national guidance.
The work of our Healthwatch colleagues to improve patient transport in Sussex, in collaboration with the ICB and its partners, recently won a national Healthwatch Impact Award, which showcases outstanding examples of where feedback shared from local people has been used to make positive changes to health and care support.
Alan Boyd, from Healthwatch Brighton and Hove, said:
“Healthwatch in Sussex congratulates EMED on successfully being appointed as the new provider for Non-Emergency Patient Transport in Sussex following a competitive open procurement process.
“We look forward to working with them as they deliver the new contract. We are pleased that the service specification reflects what patients have told us they wanted to see from the service, including improved communications, greater ability to track vehicles and clearer guidance around eligibility.
“The service is a lifeline for many people and Healthwatch will continue to monitor performance and engage service users to support its continual improvement.”
To see the full range of benefits the new service will offer, visit: Sussex ICS NEPTS Update
