Special-purpose road passenger-transport services

Tender description

The requirement is for Non-Emergency Patient Transport including High Dependency for University Hospitals of North Midland NHS Trust (UHNM) sites (Royal Stoke and County) and also North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust (NSCHT). This is a 4-year contract with the option to extend for an additional 24 months. The authority is seeking bids for a 4-year contract for Non-Emergency and High Dependency patient transport services across UHNM and NSCHT, to include non-emergency and non-urgent patients to and from UHNM Trust hospital sites 24 hours per day, 365 days per year across the UK. High Dependency Patient Transport Services The transportation of clinically unstable patients from both hospital sites who require a higher level of care, including County Hospital to Royal Stoke Hospital who require a higher level of monitoring or specialist input, for example patients who are at risk of deterioration and require a paramedic in attendance. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services The transportation of patients with a medical need requiring Non-Urgent, planned transport who may require a wide range of mobility needs and levels of care consistent with the patients’ medical needs, for example the safe administration of oxygen therapy. Staff qualification and certification: Paramedics will be trained to the standard of the National Health Service Training Directorate (NHSTD) ‘Ambulance Service Paramedic Training’ course. They will further be required to re-certify annually in agreement with the local ambulance paramedic steering committee. All paramedics must be state registered with the Health Professionals Council (HPC) and comply with Joint Royal College Ambulance Liaison Association (JRCALC) protocols. Advanced ambulance personnel will be trained to the standard of the IHCD (Institute of Healthcare and Development) First Person on Scene (FPOS) intermediate level and will undertake additional training at least annually. As a minimum staff employed as Ambulance Service Attendant (excluding PTS Drivers) must be trained to IHCD First Person on Scene (FPOS) intermediate. Service provision Transfer patients between UHNM NHS Trust sites, intra-site, other NHS or private facilities and other UHNM lead clinics within other healthcare facilities for treatment, diagnostic tests and investigation and the Trusts mortuary facilities. Transfer of High Dependency and Non-Emergency patients requiring repatriation to originating hospital or safe discharge to their home address anywhere within the UK. The service includes specialised areas that include bespoke requirements and require dedicated resources, as described in the examples below. Children’s Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The occasional transportation of emergency and planned ambulance retrievals and transfers for the Trusts Children’s Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) if such transfers cannot be provided by the regional transport service. Cardiology — Catheter lab: A dedicated paramedic lead, fully equipped frontline emergency ambulance, fitted with blue lights provision to transport patients from other hospital for admission and return into and from the Trusts Cardiology Catheter Lab. This service should provide an emergency facility for transporting patients from other hospital admission and return into and from trusts Cardiology Catheter Lab, who require urgent cardiology procedure or cardiothoracic surgery. The service will be required for 12 hours a day, 5 days a week, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). The contractor is advised that operating hours will usually be required from 6.00/7.00 from the point of collection of the first patient. Bidders should note that TUPE is likely to apply to this requirement — full details are within the ITT documentation. The issue of this ITT is not a commitment by the trust ‘the Authority’ to place any contract as a result of the tendering exercise and in addition, the authority reserves the right to terminate or suspend the tendering process at any stage and for any reason. The authority is seeking bids for a 4-year contract for Non-Emergency and High Dependency patient transport services across UHNM and NSCHT, to include non-emergency and non-urgent patients to and from UHNM Trust hospital sites 24 hours per day, 365 days per year across the UK. High Dependency Patient Transport Services The transportation of clinically unstable patients from hospital sites who require a higher level of care and who require a higher level of monitoring or specialist input, for example patients who are at risk of deterioration and require a paramedic in attendance. Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services: The transportation of patients with a medical need requiring Non-Urgent, planned transport who may require a wide range of mobility needs and levels of care consistent with the patients’ medical needs, for example the safe administration of oxygen therapy. Staff qualification and certification: Paramedics will be trained to the standard of the National Health Service Training Directorate (NHSTD) ‘Ambulance Service Paramedic Training’ course. They will further be required to re-certify annually in agreement with the local ambulance paramedic steering committee. All Paramedics must be state registered with the Health Professionals Council (HPC) and comply with Joint Royal College Ambulance Liaison Association (JRCALC) protocols. Advanced ambulance personnel will be trained to the standard of the IHCD (Institute of Healthcare and Development) First Person on Scene (FPOS) intermediate level and will undertake additional training at least annually. As a minimum staff employed as ambulance service attendant (excluding PTS Drivers) must be trained to IHCD First Person on Scene (FPOS) intermediate. Service provision Transfer patients between UHNM NHS Trust sites, intra-site, other NHS or private facilities and within other Healthcare facilities for treatment, diagnostic tests and investigation and the Trusts mortuary facilities. Transfer of High Dependency and Non-Emergency patients requiring repatriation to originating hospital or safe discharge to their home address anywhere within the UK. Bidders should note that TUPE is likely to apply to this requirement — full details are within the ITT documentation. The issue of this ITT is not a commitment by the trust ‘the Authority’ to place any contract as a result of the tendering exercise and in addition, the authority reserves the right to terminate or suspend the tendering process at any stage and for any reason.