West Yorkshire Patient Transport Services

Covid-19 has delayed the Commissioners preparation and engagement for procurement for the non-emergency patient transport services (NEPTS) in West Yorkshire. This has given rise to an urgent need to secure a safe continued provision of service. There is insufficient time for West Yorkshire CCGs (CCGS) to comply with undertaking a competitive procurement process under Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCRs). Accordingly, the CCGs considers this a state of urgency that is duly substantiated and brought about by circumstances which a contracting authority could not have foreseen and awards an additional contract of 12 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months to the incumbent provider. This does not alter the overall nature of the contract. NHS England has announced its intention to continue the national review into NEPTS, recognising the high number of unsuccessful procurements over the past few years and the overall fragility of the market. The stated purpose of the review is to establish a set of standards, deliverables and outcomes to support the commissioning and delivery of NEPTS. The impact of Covid has delayed the outcome of the National Review, intended to form part of the developmental process of the procurement. It is not appropriate to put further pressure on patient transport services when resources are being redeployed and used very flexibly to meet the challenges of the current emergency. This includes: lifting of eligibility criteria and prioritising of patients, increase in number of discharges and different locations to take patients to, flexibility in demand to new hot hub sites, single patient journeys to reduce any cross infection and increased need to deep clean vehicles. Potential further peaks of non-Covid activity impacting on journeys and the need for a provider to be flexible in rapid response to the wider system needs in demand and operating hours. It is expected that the Covid-19 pandemic will impact on services for many months to come and it is considered imperative that the current service provider be afforded greater security of tenure to ensure stability of workforce and subcontracting provision. There is a need for assurance which will safely provide continuation of the service. Experience and knowledge is required to ensure adherence to NHS guidance for transport and on pathways impacted for acute, community and primary care services, any early transition in service could have a negative effect on patient experience. Continuation of the service is required to allow sufficient time for a full procurement that would enable a realistic mobilisation period for transition from the current service to the commencement of a new service, at the earliest practicable date i.e. 1 April 2023. It is envisaged that a mobilisation period of up to 9 months will be required in order for the new provider to secure the order and provision of a fleet of vehicles in time for service commencement. The additional contractual term will allow for a future procurement and allow the commissioners sufficient time to undertake engagement with all stakeholders to inform a robust procurement process, which aims to award a new longer term contract whilst ensuring continuity of care for its patient population. The provisional plan is to relaunch in spring 2022, with the procurement and mobilisation periods resulting in the new service commencing April 2023. However, given the uncertainty of the coming months, a contract extension of 12 months with an option to extend for a further 12 months is proposed, enabling a further extension to be undertaken, should any further incidents or issues associated with the pandemic, prevent the procurement commencing as planned again. It is our view that the commissioning of NEPTS for West Yorkshire falls under the ‘Light Touch’ Regime (Schedule 3 ‘social and other specific services’ of the PCRs) because clinical interaction is a significant part of the specification.