Non-Emergency Patient Transport
Most people should travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of relatives or friends if necessary.
NHS-funded patient transportation is reserved for when it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery.
Who is the NHS non-emergency patient transport service (NEPTS) for?
The non-emergency patient transport service is funded by the NHS for patients who, due to their mobility needs or medical condition, are unable to travel safely by other means. The service is provided by EMED Medical Transport Services Ltd on behalf of your local NHS (Herefordshire and Worcestershire - EMED Group).
Therefore, Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPTS) is only available for patients with a medical need that meets the eligibility criteria as detailed below. Before contacting the patient transport service, please ensure that all other transport options have been exhausted, eg. can transport be arranged through family, friends, or a taxi paid by the patient?
Who might be eligible to use NEPTS?
Eligibility for non-emergency patient transport is aligned with national NHS guidance - B1244-nepts-eligibility-criteria.pdf
NEPTS is available if:
- Your medical condition means you cannot use other forms of transport without damaging your health
- Your mobility means that you would be unable to access healthcare by any other means
- You need the skills or support of PTS staff before/on/after the journey.
Examples include:
- All stretcher patients
- Some wheelchair patients
- Patients being transferred between hospitals
- Patients who require oxygen to be administered during the journey
- Patients who need to be monitored during the journey
Who decides if I am entitled to use NEPTS?
All patients who wish to be considered for the non-emergency patient transport service are required to be assessed by the EMED Patient Transport Advice Centre against the national eligibility criteria. The EMED Patient Transport Advice Centre can be contacted on 0300 011 0017 for bookings and enquiries.
I have had NEPTS before, will I continue to get it?
Your eligibility for NEPTS is considered each time you ask for patient transport, because your medical condition and your transport needs can change. There have also been some recent realignment of NEPTS eligibility criteria with national guidelines, which may mean you are no longer eligible. Please check this when booking your transport.
I am not eligible - other transport options
Patients who are not eligible for NHS funded patient transport must make their own arrangements for travelling to their appointment.
Other options may be more appropriate for you. Please see the patient information websites below, which detail community programs to assist people with local transport:
Herefordshire
https://
Worcestershire
https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/council-services/adult-social-care/support-stay-independent-and-l…
Non-eligible patients who cannot afford transport costs may qualify for the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) and can be signposted to the hospital cashier’s office.
Further information
For further details on the non-emergency patient transport service, please see the website: www.hwpatienttransport.co.uk
