Non-emergency Patient Transport Service 13.185b2

Concepts

• passenger transport
• lewes
• sussex
• nhs east sussex clinical commissioning group
• nhs west sussex clinical commissioning group
• nhs brighton
• emergency patient transport services
• patient transport vehicles
• patient transport services
• safe continued provision of the service

Location

Within the boundaries of West Sussex, East Sussex and Brighton and Hove. Destinations may also include locations 'out of area'.

Description

On behalf of NHS East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS West Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group, and NHS Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group. Non-emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) across Sussex. This is a VEAT notice for the award of an additional contract of 6 months with Commissioners reserving the right to extend for a further 6 months (representing a maximum of 12 months) to the incumbent provider for the period 01/04/2022 to 30/09/2022 (31/03/2023 in the event of a further 6 month extension). Patient transport journeys are booked for patients being moved to and from NHS funded treatment at a range of sites across Sussex including acute hospitals and local venues providing community-based care. The service is responsible for safely and effectively transporting eligible patients between their nominated place of residence, to, from and between NHS-funded healthcare facilities in a timely manner, so that they can receive the health care for which they are booked.

Total Quantity or Scope

The prolonged continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing escalation of pressures on all healthcare resources has brought about a number of new and significant risks that could not have been foreseen and which have further delayed the Commissioners' detailed preparation and engagement for a full procurement for the non- emergency patient transport services in Sussex, under Public Contracts Regulations 2015 and The Public Procurement (Amendment etc.)(EU Exit) Regulations 2020. This has given rise to an urgent need to secure a safe continued provision of the service via a new short term contract to mitigate these risks and maximise opportunities for the procurement process to deliver a high quality, patient-centred and responsive Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), which provides value for money, is resilient, environmentally efficient and innovative in the use of information technology to communicate with service users. Accordingly, the contracting authority considers that the continued and unprecedented impact of Covid-19 presents a state of urgency that is duly substantiated and been brought about by circumstances which a diligent contracting authority could not have foreseen and award an additional contract of 6 months with Commissioners reserving the right to extended for a further 6 months (representing a maximum of 12 months) to the incumbent provider. The new short term contract will be a continuation of existing service provision, under current terms and conditions, to transport patients who meet the eligibility criteria to and from their place of residence and Sussex NHS-funded health care facilities. This responsibility of the service will therefore continue to include: • providing a single point of access and full booking service for patients and HCPs; • equitable and consistent application of the eligibility criteria to all patients and carers; • signposting patients who are not eligible for PTS to alternative transport arrangements; • effective determination of mobility need or needs; • allocation of journeys across the sub-contracted transport providers through an equitable, open and transparent process; • effective communication and collaboration with system wide stakeholders; • coordination and management of all patient journeys; • timely reporting to commissioners. The value stated represents the total potential value i.e. for up to a total of 12 months including the optional extension. The three CCGs named in this notice are successor entities (since 1 April 2020) of: • NHS West Sussex CCG - NHS Coastal West Sussex CCG, NHS Crawley CCG, NHS Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG; • NHS East Sussex CCG - NHS High Weald Lewes Havens CCG, NHS Eastbourne Hastings and Seaford CCG, NHS Hastings and Rother CCG; • NHS Brighton and Hove CCG - no change.

Award Detail

Renewal Options

This is an award of a contract of 6 months with Commissioners reserving the right to extend for a further 6 months.

CPV Codes

• 60130000 - Special-purpose road passenger-transport services
• 34114122 - Patient-transport vehicles
• 34115200 - Motor vehicles for the transport of fewer than 10 persons
• 60000000 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)
• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

• Options are available.

Legal Justification

The Sussex CCGs are committed to providing a high quality, patient-centred and responsive Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), which provides value for money, is resilient, environmentally efficient and innovative in the use of information technology to communicate with service users. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a number of new and significant challenges and risks that could not be foreseen, and have impacted upon the planned timetable for tendering the NEPTS. • The resurgence of the COVID pandemic. A second wave of infections started in August 2020 leading to a second national lockdown in November 2020. The third wave and associated lockdown from the end of December has caused significantly more impact to the system than previous waves alongside the new variant of COVID which has displayed increased transmission ability. • There has been a significant delay in the publication of the NEPTS National Review report which will provide national recommendations and guidance for the future of NEPTS and will help to shape our future services. • COVID has substantially changed the NEPTS conveyance model. It is yet unclear when it will be possible to return to a 'normal' state nor what to expect the normal to look like, from an operational delivery perspective. • Mass Vaccination has commenced in December 2020 and NEPTS providers are being asked to support this programme of work. This has increased the burden placed upon providers in an already busy period of the year. Therefore, the tender process for the new service will now be paused. The existing contract expires on 31st March 2022 and following negotiations an agreement was reached to direct award a 6 months contract with Commissioners reserving the right to extend for a further 6 months (representing a maximum of 12 months) to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (the incumbent supplier) for a contract running from 01/04/2022. This will allow the Sussex CCGs to undertake a full and proper procurement exercise to mitigate the risks that have been exposed. By awarding an additional contract of 6 months with Commissioners reserving the right to extend for a further 6 months (representing a maximum of 12 months) to the incumbent supplier the CCGs will have sufficient time required to receive the findings of the national NEPTS review and incorporate them into the new service specification to benefit patients. Additionally this will allow the CCGs to fully incorporate lessons learnt from the Covid-19 pandemic and long term changes to patient behaviours, activity and overall needs. The value stated represents the total potential value i.e. for up to a total of 12 months including the optional extension.