Work is currently underway across South Yorkshire to review and implement national criteria for Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS).
Non-emergency patient transport services provide free transport services for people who are eligible to travel to or from a hospital or a medical appointment but are unable to travel without specialist support.
Eligibility for NHS-funded transport is assessed in relation to a patient’s medical needs, mobility and general transport arrangements.
NHS England launched a public consultation on patient eligibility recommendations in 2021. In response to feedback, the National eligibility criteria for NEPTS was updated and published. In summary, this states most people should travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of relatives or friends if necessary.
In South Yorkshire, the application of this amended eligibility criteria could potentially result in significant fewer journeys being offered to local patients.
In order to help us understand the impact this may have on our patients; we are undertaking a piece of involvement work to gather the views from residents between 22 July and 2 September 2024.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation, NHS South Yorkshire want to hear from people across the area to obtain feedback on the criteria, to help us understand and consider which groups and communities could be impacted across South Yorkshire.
Dr David Crichton, Medical Officer from NHS South Yorkshire said “Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services’ cover all of our places across South Yorkshire. People requiring non-emergency hospital transport have specific needs and are often older, disabled or living with a long-term condition, such as patients needing renal dialysis”.
“We are undertaking this piece of work as we are keen to hear from local service users to establish how the changes will affect them. The feedback received will help us understand and consider which of our communities could be affected most due to the changes across South Yorkshire.”
Local residents can have their say by filling in the online survey here. For further information please visit our website.
