Provision of STRS Patient Transport Services

The South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS) provides specialist paediatric critical care retrieval and transfer services for critically ill children across a network of hospitals. Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust is preparing to procure a dedicated 24/7 patient transport service, including specialist ambulances and Ambulance Technicians, to support the safe and timely transfer of patients to specialist paediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal: https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust ("the Authority") is seeking to procure Patient Transport Services for the South Thames Retrieval Service (STRS).

STRS is a specialist paediatric critical care retrieval service based at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. The service provides emergency and urgent retrieval and transfer of critically ill children between referring hospitals and specialist paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) across a regional network.

The Authority is seeking to procure a dedicated specialist patient transport service operating on a 24/7 basis. The proposed service is expected to support the rapid deployment and transfer of specialist clinical retrieval teams and critically ill paediatric patients.

The anticipated scope of services includes, but is not limited to: Provision of specialist ambulances suitable for paediatric critical care transport; Provision and maintenance of associated ambulance equipment; Provision of Ambulance Technicians and operational support staff; Vehicle maintenance, servicing, cleaning, and compliance management; Support for rapid mobilisation and time-critical patient transfers; Provision of contingency and resilience arrangements; and Participation in contract governance and performance management arrangements.

The Authority anticipates that the service model will operate on the basis that: The Supplier provides ambulances, associated equipment, and Ambulance Technicians; and The Authority provides the clinical retrieval team (e.g. doctors and nurses).

The service is expected to include: Two (2) dedicated ambulances available on site at all times; One (1) backup vehicle available 24/7; and Access to a resilience vehicle for contingency scenarios.

The future provider is anticipated to: Be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC); Have a certified CQC Registered Manager in place; Operate within a clinical healthcare environment; and Demonstrate the ability to deliver a highly reliable, time-critical service.

The indicative timeline currently anticipates: Launch of formal tender process: June 2026; Contract award: September 2026; Mobilisation period: October 2026; and Contract commencement: 1 November 2026. To express interest and participate in the tender, please register and apply via Atamis e-sourcing portal: https://atamis-1928.my.site.com/s/Welcome