I don't think anyone is surprised that the Non Emergency Passenger Transport contract for Plymouth has indeed been awarded to a private contractor rather than South Western Ambulance. That said I do feel that its a real shame to see them loose this work. It must also be a worrying time for the crews.
Contract awarded for non-emergency patient transport service
Patients travelling to healthcare appointments in Plymouth, who are eligible for non-emergency patient transport, will benefit from the new contract that has just been awarded by NEW Devon Clinical Commissioning Group to SRCL Limited. This new contract comes into effect from 1st October 2013 and will deliver:
- Faster response times for getting patients into and out of hospital
- Improved communication - with patients being contacted the day before and on the day of their appointment
- A commitment to continually improving the service delivered
SRCL Limited already operates a number of non-emergency patient transport contracts across the country. South Western Ambulance Services Foundation Trust (SWASFT) will continue to provide this service until the end of September. SWASFT have been instrumental in making significant improvements in delivering this service and we want to thank them for their support. Further details on how the new contract will operate will be widely publicised in the coming months.
These have been around for a long time, not for much longer though...
I should think the staff will be transferred to SRCL under TUPE law
ReplyDeleteNow here we see an ambulance on foreign badged chassis.
ReplyDeleteAre we the only country that does not support our own industries.
Oh I forgot about Thameslink trains
I work for SWAST on the 999 side, yes staff will be TUPE'd, but not because they want to its because they have to! This exercise is privatisation of the NHS via the back door and it wont provide a better service, it will provide a cheaper service that is profit driven and not patient driven!
ReplyDeleteAs the old motto says you pay for what you get!