Today, the NHS has launched its review into non-emergency patient transport. The review describes too many instances of patients not receiving a sufficiently timely and high-quality journey, often due to poor commissioning, uncertainty about eligibility and a lack of information on service activity and performance.
Outlining a foundation for addressing these issues, it details the need for updated national eligibility criteria, improved wider transport support, greater transparency, a clear path to net zero emissions, and better procurement and contracting. This much-needed review provides a basis for greater consistency, while recognising that needs vary from one place to another and that services should be tailored to reflect this.
365 Response Founder, Sarah Fatchett discussed her experience and contribution to the review: “we know how much the world has changed and the new ways of delivering Outpatient care digitally has had a massive impact on the old model of taking everyone in, all of the time. Now we are seeing seismic shifts in the market with moves to more on-day demand, rapid movements, and core Renal transport being delivered by networks of key suppliers on both insourced and outsourced models.
“We have seen how the 365 Response Digital Marketplace – that enables swift easy online procurement for all hospital flow and ambulance service transport support for PTS ad-hoc, short notice, discharge crews, IFTs, taxi and mental health – has really come into its own. The change in demand pattern is here to stay and long-term static contracts for Outpatient transport are shrinking in the face of new on-day and near-time demand flow pressures, and increasing the need for NHS and Local Authorities to purchase dynamically, digitally and securely.”
The executive summary of the report states: “Our experience of healthcare does not start and stop at the hospital door. Transport to and from treatment can make a significant difference to patients’ wellbeing, and sometimes to their safety and health.”
Get in touch today via [email protected] to see how we our Digital Transport Marketplace can help improve your non-emergency patient transport service.
