Over recent years, decisions about who should be entitled to non-emergency patient transport services (PTS) have developed in response to historic local practice which has meant decisions have not been consistent nor applied evenly and fairly across the East Midlands.  An assessment revealed that most journeys (66%) were for those patients in the lowest category of need.  Unwanted, cancelled and abandoned journeys cost the NHS in the East Midlands approximately 1.8 million pounds per year.

EMPACT was asked to lead in co-ordinating a commissioner based model for non-urgent patient transport services. It involved agreeing detailed service specifications on a county model, agreeing a re-distribution of funds between commissioners and undertaking a market assessment to determine the preferred route to contracting and procurement in the future.

From April 2011 a strict definition of who is eligible for NHS-funded, non-urgent patient transport is being rigorously applied across the East Midlands, ensuring that only patients, who were eligible on the grounds of clinical need, could use this NHS funded transport service. An improved model was drawn up, ironing out unwanted local inconsistencies. A procurement process for patient transport services has now commenced with the aim being that the new services are in place by early summer 2012. The changes are fairer for patients, better for transport providers and hospitals, reducing waste and improving service and value for money.