Non-emergency patient transport services (PTS)

Description

You may already be aware that from Tuesday 1 April 2025, Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) implemented the revised national eligibility criteria for non-emergency patient transport services (PTS) in partnership with the three Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) across Yorkshire and Humber. The criteria set out that most people should travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of relatives or friends if necessary. The NHS only provides funded non-emergency transport where a medical condition means that a patient would struggle to safely attend their hospital treatment or appointment independently and it is essential for their condition management or recovery. 

For HNY the go live date was 27 May and the ICB has been undertaking an initial assessment to look at the impact of the changes.  Feedback from voluntary and community sector partners has highlighted that there is some confusion about the criteria specifically in relation to chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients.

In HNY the ICB has taken the decision that patients using non-emergency patient transport for chemotherapy/radiotherapy appointments and, where there is a medical need, children under the age of 17, will continue to be eligible due to their other healthcare, medical and mobility requirements.

I have attached to this letter further clarification about other circumstances where patients are eligible for NHS funded transport to and from hospital appointments.

In addition please find below a link to the national criteria and a summary of the HNY position.

B1244-nepts-eligibility-criteria.pdf

Additional information

We will also be undertaking some further work with YAS to ensure that their process is as simple as possible and ensure:

  • That people are supported to provide the right information to allow their eligibility to be assessed
  • where appropriate, patient concerns regarding an initial eligibility decision are escalated as appropriate
  • If people are not deemed eligible for transport, they understand the reason for this.

We hope this information is helpful and appreciate your continued efforts in supporting patients to access their appointments.

Criteria

Appendix A: Summary of eligibility criteria

Eligible

Not eligible

A patient is likely to be eligible for NEPTS where one or more of the following applies:

The patient cannot travel to and from hospital independently by private or public transport, with the help of friends or relatives if necessary AND:

The patient has a medical condition which impairs mobility, requires close monitoring during their journey or requires specialist equipment during the journey

The patient attends regular haemodialysis.

The patient may be immunocompromised for example due to radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment

Travelling by any other means would have a serious detrimental effect on the patient’s condition or recovery.

The patient has restricted mobility and is unable to self-mobilise (i.e. unable to stand or walk more than a few steps), including from a pre-existing condition, where it would be detrimental to their condition or recovery to travel by any other means.

The patient requires support from a NEPTS crew during the journey and is required to lie down for at least part of the journey or they are a stretcher patient.

The patient is being transferred to another NHS facility.

The patient has a mental health difficulty, illness or a learning disability/condition or mental capacity issues, which makes it difficult or impossible to travel by other means.

The patient has a sensory impairment which requires oversight of suitably trained transport staff.

The patient has a clearly recognisable disability and is unable to travel by private or public transport to and from their appointments.

A safeguarding concern has been raised by any relevant professional involved in a patients live, in relation to the patient travelling independently.

A patient is not eligible for NEPTS where one or more of the following applies:

The patient is not registered with a Humber and North Yorkshire GP practice

The patient does not have a medical or mental health condition which impairs mobility.

The patient does not require support from a NEPTS crew and it would not have a serious or detrimental effect on their condition or recovery if they travel by their own means

The patient has a family member, friend or carer who could help with travel to and from the appointment.

The patient is registered as disabled but has their own means of transport which is suitable for travel to and from the appointment.

The patient is sectioned under the Mental Health Act 2007 at the time of the journey. In this instance the patient/healthcare professional will need to contact a specialist transport provider.

The patient is able to but is not willing to pay for transport and is not medically eligible.

The patient requires  continuous oxygen or other medical gases or intravenous support that can be self-administered and does not require close monitoring during the journey or a medical escort.

The patient is not medically eligible for NEPTS but is unable to afford to pay for transport. In this instance, patient may be eligible for support through the Hospital Travel Cost Scheme (HTCS) (see below)