Provision of Non Emergency Patient Transport Services for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board

NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board intends to undertake a new provider selection process for Non Emergency Patient Transport Services following the abandonment of Lot 1 of the previous North West procurement.

The previous process was abandoned due to an error in the published ITT. The ICB has reviewed the issues and is updating the procurement documents, governance and assurance arrangements before restarting the process.

The proposed service may include:

• Planned and unplanned patient transport, including hospital discharge and short-notice journeys
• Priority transport for time-critical treatments, including renal dialysis and oncology
• Booking, scheduling, dispatch and operational management
• Appropriate vehicles, equipment and trained staff
• Performance reporting, safeguarding, patient experience and service improvement

The ICB is seeking provider feedback on:

• Market capability and capacity
• Service scope and delivery model
• Mobilisation timescales
• Workforce and TUPE
• Activity, financial arrangements and the proposed cap-and-collar model
• Quality, sustainability, patient experience and value
• Any risks or barriers to participation

A face to face market engagement session will be held in Warrington. The date and venue will be confirmed once expressions of interest have been received.

This market engagement is not a call for competition and does not commit the ICB to commencing a procurement or awarding a contract. Participation or non participation will not give any provider an advantage or disadvantage in any future process. The requirement is expected to fall within the scope of the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. Any subsequent provider selection process will be conducted in accordance with the applicable regulations and guidance.