Multinational security firm G4S has been awarded a lucrative contract to run patient transport services in Kent and Medway. The company, one of the world’s largest private employers, successfully bid for three contracts worth about £90 million to provide free transport for people who are unable to get to and from hospital any other way. The service is currently provided by troubled Larkfield-based private ambulance operator NSL, which last month said it was withdrawing its bid to renew its contract when it expires in July 2016.
Ian Ayres, chief officer for NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which led the procurement, said G4S had passed through a “rigorous and thorough” selection process in which contractors were assessed on quality and cost. He said: “They are to provide non-emergency patient transport for eligible patients in Kent and Medway excluding Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; renal patients requiring dialysis; and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust patients. “There were six bidders in all, several bidding for more than one contract. G4S came top on quality for all three contracts by a significant margin and was lowest on price for one of them.
“G4S has a good track record of delivering high-quality patient transport services across the country, including in London, Essex and Surrey.” He added: “We look forward to working with them and with NSL to ensure a smooth transition.” All three contracts run for six years with the option to extend by another three.
NHS bosses expect there will be around 316,000 patient journeys in the first year and nearly two million during the six years covered by the contracts. G4S was rated top in all three bids by a panel of patients, hospital and community NHS staff and commissioners
