Eligibility criteria for non-emergency patient transport: A consultation

Overview

In August 2021, NHS England and NHS Improvement published the outcome of a review into Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS). The review's final report sets out a new national framework for NEPTS, with the aim of ensuring that services are consistently responsive, fair and sustainable.

You are advised to read this consultation document as well as the review's full report, alongside this survey.   

The first component of the new national framework is a commitment to update the national guidance on eligibility. This commitment responds to the concerns raised by patient groups and others during the review process that access to NEPTS is inconsistent between areas.   

NHS England and NHS Improvement have therefore developed updated national eligibility criteria and is consulting on these.   

The proposed new criteria were developed through engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including patient groups and charities, transport providers, healthcare providers and commissioners. We are very grateful for their collaboration and input to date.   

This consultation will allow more detailed feedback on the full criteria. It is aimed at transport providers, commissioners, and the general public.   

The other components of the new national framework for NEPTS are as follows (full details in the full report):   

• Support for wider transport planning and journeys for all patients
• Increased transparency, to incentivise patient-focused provision and enable greater learning and accountability
• A clear path to a net zero NHS patient transport sector
• Better procurement and contract management   

The consultation has been extended and will now end on 25 November 2021. NHS England and NHS Improvement will also be running four workshops as part of this.

The workshops will broadly focus on the same lines of enquiry as those in the consultation document. The four workshops will be entitled as follows:

• NEPTS eligibility workshop: Medical need, haemodialysis patients, cognitive and sensory impairment: 19 October 2021: 13:30 - 15.00
• NEPTS eligibility workshop: Defining mobility impairment and escorts and carers: 28 October 2021: 13:30 - 15.00
• NEPTS eligibility workshop: Other transport options, wider support and safeguarding: 4 November 2021: 13:30 - 15.00
• NEPTS eligibility workshop: Health inequalities and implementation approach: 11 November 2021: 13:30 - 15.00

More information on how to register for these workshops will be released imminently. You can continue to express interest to be involved in these to the NEPTS mailbox: nhsi.neptsreview@nhs.net. Workshops will be between 1hr - 1hr 30 depending on interest.

Participation will be based on a first-come-first-served basis. Those who have already expressed an interest to be involved are guaranteed a space in at least one workshop.

The feedback received will be collected during the sessions, collated with responses already received via our online survey, and will feed into the final stages of the development of these criteria before publication in early 2022.