Patient Transport Between Hospital Sites
Estimated Value
Not specified
Deadline
Not specified
Published
7 May 2026
Type
goods
Overview
Nerams is a third party provider for NEAS via the ICB. NEAS is not contracted to deliver same day discharges and the volume of last minute cancellations of patient transport was recently increasing leading to organisational pressure.
It was agreed to fund a dedicated discharge vehicle and arranged this via NERAMs at short notice to support with operational pressures. It was agreed to fund a dedicated discharge vehicle and arranged this via NERAMs at short notice to support with operational pressures.
The contract has been awarded under PSR Direct Award Process C. The approximate lifetime value of the contract is £294,182.40. Service to conclude 31st January 2027.
AI Analysis
Powered by AI — always verify against official documents
The NHS (via NEAS — North East Ambulance Service) needs a dedicated vehicle and driver to transport patients being discharged from hospital to their homes or care facilities. This is a temporary service to reduce delays caused by last-minute cancellations and help the hospital manage patient flow. The contract is worth approximately £294,182 and runs until 31 January 2027.
Requirements
- Must be able to provide a dedicated discharge vehicle (ambulance or suitable patient transport vehicle)
- Driver must hold appropriate qualifications for patient transport (likely PTS or ambulance driver training)
- Must be able to operate under NHS safeguarding and infection control protocols
- Must have appropriate insurance and liability coverage for patient transport
- Must be registered with appropriate health and safety authorities
- Service must be available for same-day discharge operations (specific hours to be confirmed in tender documents)
- Must comply with Data Protection Act 2018 (handling patient information)
- Experience working with NHS trusts or emergency services preferred but check full tender documents for mandatory criteria
Key Tasks & Deliverables
- Provide one dedicated vehicle specifically for patient discharge transport
- Employ and manage driver(s) to operate the vehicle during required hours
- Transport discharged patients from hospital to their home address or designated care facility
- Manage last-minute scheduling changes and cancellations flexibly
- Maintain vehicle to NHS safety and cleanliness standards
- Keep detailed records of patient transport journeys for NHS audit purposes
- Coordinate with hospital discharge teams on timing and patient needs
How to Read This Tender
- 1Note that this contract was awarded via 'PSR Direct Award Process C' — this means it was not openly competed. If you're considering similar future work, understand that the NHS uses different procurement routes (open tender, framework agreement, direct award) depending on urgency and circumstances.
- 2The contract value of £294,182 is the 'lifetime value' — divide this by the contract length (roughly 2 years) to understand the annual income (~£147k). Check if this covers vehicle costs, fuel, insurance, staff wages, and profit, or if some are funded separately.
- 3Look carefully in the full tender documents for the exact hours of operation — 'discharge transport' might mean 9am-5pm weekdays only, or it might include evenings and weekends. This dramatically affects staffing and vehicle costs.
- 4The phrase 'short notice' and 'operational pressure' suggests this may be an emergency or interim arrangement. Check whether this is genuinely a 2-year contract or if it could be extended/reduced based on demand. There may be an exit clause.
- 5NEAS is the ambulance service and NERAMs is the third-party provider managing the contract — make sure you understand whether you're tendering directly to NEAS, through NERAMs, or to the ICB (Integrated Care Board). Different organisations have different processes.
Tips for Small Businesses
- This is a relatively small contract (£294k over 2 years) and may suit a local independent ambulance or patient transport firm. If you're a sole trader, consider partnering with a small transport company or subcontracting to an established PTS provider who can handle compliance and insurance, while you provide operational management.
- The NHS is increasingly focused on 'social value' — even though this tender doesn't mention it explicitly, highlight any local employment (especially recruiting drivers from the local community), training opportunities, or commitments to sustainability (e.g. fuel-efficient vehicles, low-emission options) in your bid.
- Before bidding, confirm with NEAS/NERAMs exactly what's included in the £294k. Are vehicle costs, fuel, maintenance, and insurance your responsibility, or are some provided? A poorly scoped contract can quickly become unprofitable. Request a detailed specification and cost breakdown template in the tender documents.
Likely incumbents
Suppliers who won similar work from this buyer in the last 5 years.
- 1
FSNE MEDICAL LIMITED
1 contract wonlatest 4 Jun 2026
FSNE MEDICAL LIMITED is the most likely incumbent based on recency and category match. To win, bidders typically need a clearly differentiated proposition or a price advantage.
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Key Dates
Published
7 May 2026
Submission deadline
Not specified
Notice type
award
Source
find a tender
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