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HTG-UK awarded non-emergency patient transport contract in Essex

Health Transportation Group UK (HTG-UK) has been awarded the new five-year contract to operate non-emergency patient transport across Mid and South Essex.

The contract will commence on 1 April 2022 and follows a robust procurement process by the five NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) within Mid and South Essex.

Derek Laird, HTG-UK Chief Executive, said: “The contract award in Mid and South Essex is a hugely significant milestone and a proud moment for our organisation. 

“Our successful bid for this contract is grounded in the hard work and dedication of colleagues across HTG-UK. The resilience we have shown, particularly during Covid-19, is truly inspirational and shows what can be achieved through teamwork and a willingness to go the extra mile for colleagues and patients.”

Non-emergency patient transport contracts in Mid and South Essex are currently held by Health Transportation Group UK and East of England Ambulance Service.  The new contract will combine this into a single service which will be smoother and more efficient for patients, particularly as the local health and care system is working towards a more joined up and integrated health and care service for the region’s 1.2 million population.

Derek added: “We faced fierce competition for this contract and our success sends a clear message that we are now one of the foremost providers of patient transport in the UK. We have ambitious plans for the future and will now move forward with an even greater sense of optimism and determination.

“We will embrace the responsibility of providing high-quality and caring transport for patients in Essex.

“This contract award also means we will welcome colleagues into HTG-UK who will join us via TUPE from East of England Ambulance Service. We will offer these colleagues every support as they begin their time with us and make sure they feel a valued and respected part of the HTG-UK family.”

The procurement process for this contract began in 2019 with a series of stakeholder engagement workshops and a survey for service users to find out how the patient transport service could be improved.  Patient representatives have been involved throughout, both in the development of the service specification and in the procurement process itself.

Gill Jones, patient representative and lay board member for patient and public involvement at Basildon and Brentwood CCG said, “Patient transport is a vital service for many patients who otherwise would find it difficult or impossible to attend hospital appointments.  I was very pleased to have been involved, with a number of other patient representatives, in what was a thorough and robust procurement process.”