Non Emergency Patient Transport Services in Cheshire
NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARDEstimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
9 June 2026
Type
services
Overview
Non-urgent, planned and unplanned transportation of patients from Cheshire, with a medical need for transport, to and from a premises providing NHS healthcare and between NHS healthcare providers. This includes the Enhanced Priority Service for patients receiving Renal Dialysis or Oncology treatments
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB have awarded a 12month contract via regulation 14 urgency to an identified provider to deliver NEPTs Services in Cheshire. This contract will start on 1st April 2026 and will expire on 31st March 2027.
The estimated annual contract value is £14,951,000 The urgency arises following the abandonment of a previous contract award process due to a material error identified in the published contract term and value. As a result, the Authority was unable to proceed with the original award and an immediate replacement contractual arrangement was required to ensure uninterrupted service provision. This decision has been taken in line with the Authority's obligations to act transparently, fairly, and proportionately, and with a view to securing the needs of service users and maintaining service quality and continuity.
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
NHS Cheshire and Merceyside ICB needs a provider to transport non-emergency patients across Cheshire to and from NHS hospitals and treatment centres for 12 months (April 2026 to March 2027). This includes standard patient transport plus a specialist enhanced service for patients receiving kidney dialysis or cancer treatment. The contract is worth approximately £15 million per year.
Requirements
- Ability to provide non-urgent, planned and unplanned patient transport services
- Must operate across Cheshire geography
- Must transport patients to/from NHS healthcare premises and between NHS providers
- Must deliver Enhanced Priority Service specifically for Renal Dialysis patients
- Must deliver Enhanced Priority Service specifically for Oncology (cancer treatment) patients
- Must maintain service continuity from 1st April 2026 with no gaps
- Must comply with NHS standards and regulations
- Check full tender documents for vehicle standards, driver qualifications, insurance, and clinical requirements
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Arrange and deliver non-urgent planned patient transport journeys within Cheshire
- Arrange and deliver unplanned (ad-hoc) patient transport journeys within Cheshire
- Transport patients between different NHS healthcare locations
- Provide priority transport service for patients attending Renal Dialysis treatment sessions
- Provide priority transport service for patients attending Oncology (cancer) treatment appointments
- Maintain scheduling and booking systems to handle transport requests
- Ensure appropriate patient support during transport journeys
- Report on service performance and contract delivery metrics
How to Read This Tender
- 1This is a 12-month emergency contract, not the original full tender — it's a temporary replacement due to an error in a previous bidding process. The NHS had to restart urgently to keep transport running, so the contract period is fixed at one year only.
- 2The contract was already awarded to 'an identified provider' under regulation 14 urgency rules, which means this notice is informing you rather than inviting bids. Check carefully whether this is a re-tender opportunity or purely an information notice — don't waste time bidding if the contract is already allocated.
- 3The £15 million annual value indicates this is a large, complex NHS logistics operation. You'll need significant operational capacity, vehicles, drivers, and scheduling systems in place from day one (April 2026) with no ramp-up period.
- 4The Enhanced Priority Service for Dialysis and Oncology patients is a critical component — these are time-sensitive, regular journeys. The tender documents will specify frequency, response times, and clinical requirements for these specialist routes.
- 5Look for the full contract terms document which will contain: vehicle specifications, driver training and vetting requirements, patient safeguarding procedures, performance targets, payment terms, and clinical governance standards. Budget time to read these thoroughly.
Tips for Small Businesses
- As an SME, you're unlikely to deliver this alone — this is a £15m contract requiring fleet capacity, geographic coverage, and 24/7 scheduling. Explore joining a consortium with larger transport providers or established NEPT operators, or consider being a subcontractor for specific geographic areas or the enhanced dialysis/oncology service.
- Check if the NHS is still accepting bids for this contract or if it's already fully awarded. If new bidding is opening, ensure you can demonstrate experience in NHS-regulated patient transport, appropriate insurance (public liability and professional indemnity), and DBS clearance for all staff — these take time to arrange.
- The 'material error in the previous contract' suggests the NHS may be open to bidders who can start immediately on 1st April 2026. If you're considering a bid, confirm your readiness to mobilise quickly without delay. Any transition planning or staff recruitment must be completed before the start date.
Award Details
West Midlands Ambulance Service
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
Pastel Health Ltd
- 2
St Helens ROTA Ltd
- 3
Liverpool Adult ADHD - Ladders of Life Ltd
- 4
Ramsay Health Care (UK) Limited - Renacres Hospital
- 5
Immedicare LLP
Pastel Health Ltd is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
Before you bid, buyers check
two years of filed accountsyour financial standingturnover vs contract valueyour Companies House recordcash flow for 30-day termscredit scores and ratios
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Buyer Profile
NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARDKey Dates
Published
9 June 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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