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HTG-UK awarded Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly patient transport contract

Photo – Back row (standing) R-L: Tracey Coles – ICB, Paul Mockett – HTG, Neil Berry – HTG, Nicola Hughes – ICB, Jo Mulvey – HTG, 

Derek Laird – CEO HTG, Laura Lovatt – Therapeutic Response.

Front row R-L: Marianne Cox – ICB, Tracy Gaughran – ICB, John Groom – ICB

Patients in need of transportation to and from NHS appointments and treatments in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are set to benefit from an enhanced service, following the announcement of a new integrated patient transport contract. The NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB) have awarded the NHS patient-funded transport (NEPTS) contract to Health Transportation Group UK (HTG-UK), marking a significant development in healthcare services in the region. 

For the first time, the service will be integrated under the management of a single provider, offering a comprehensive suite of services. These include non-emergency patient transport, transport for residents of the Isles of Scilly, a dedicated car service for frequent travellers such as renal dialysis patients, high dependency non-emergency transfers with qualified crew, and specialist mental health transport. The service aims to cater to the diverse needs of patients, ensuring accessibility and reliability in their transport to NHS appointments and treatments.

Eligibility for the NHS-funded transport service is determined based on criteria set out in the patient transport policy and medical need assessments. This integration of NEPTS services under HTG-UK is a first for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and it promises not only to enhance patient experience but also to create employment opportunities throughout the region. HTG-UK plans to deliver these improvements by collaborating with established local transport partners, including Therapeutic Response, Lifestar, TAP (Age UK), and A2B taxis.

John Groom, Director of Integrated Care and Project Senior Responsible Officer at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB, expressed enthusiasm about the new contract, highlighting its potential to offer a truly integrated transport solution for local residents who depend on these services for their healthcare needs. Derek Laird, Chief Executive of HTG-UK, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the company’s commitment to working with all stakeholders and introducing new initiatives aimed at improving patient transport services.

The new contract is scheduled to be implemented from 1 July 2024, with patients transitioning to the new provider without any need to change their booking processes. The existing contact number for the transport service remains unchanged, allowing patients to continue booking their transport through the same channel.

This development represents a significant step forward in ensuring that patients in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have access to reliable, efficient, and suitable transport services for their healthcare needs, reinforcing the commitment of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB and HTG-UK to enhance patient care in the region.

Derek Laird, Chief Executive of HTG-UK said: “This is yet another outstanding achievement for our organisation and further strengthens HTG-UK’s position as a leading provider of healthcare transport in the UK. We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the contract to provide Non-Emergency Patient Transport in Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. It’s a great start to 2024; a year in which we hope to make great strides forward as an organisation”.

The new contract will deliver a full range of patient transport, from car services to high dependency and secure mental health. It will complete approximately 80,000 journeys each year across the county and beyond.

Derek added: “We are really looking forward to working with all stakeholders and introducing many new initiatives. The new contract will deliver a step-change improvement for patients in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly. 

It’s a truly exciting time of growth in HTG-UK. Our service offering is developing constantly, and we can’t wait to demonstrate what we believe is now the best service in the market.”

The success in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly follows the mobilisation of the new five year contract in Dorset in 2023 and the contract for Mid and South Essex in 2022 while at the same time continuing to support our existing national operations.

“Thank you to all colleagues across HTG-UK for your continued dedication in providing caring, high-quality transport for our patients. This is the cornerstone for the successful continued growth of our organisation.”

If you are a healthcare colleague, working within medical facilities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and would like to know more about the new service you can get in touch by filling in our dedicated online form here.

Any potential colleagues already working within non-emergency transport will have engagement opportunities from mid-May 2024.