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“The First of it’s Kind!”
Non Emergency Patient Transport Services for day care patients and transport for patients subject to the mental health act are usually operated by different companies. However, after a detailed tender process towards the end of last year Reliance Care Services, a division of Reliance Security Group Plc, was awarded the contract for both, in a revolutionary integrated contract let by the Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
The contract commenced on 12th February 2007 with employed drivers specially trained in First Aid, Infection Control, inter-personal skills, Patient Assistance Techniques and driving skills and a range of newly purchased vehicles dedicated to each of these services. This contract sees Reliance providing transport for circa 85 patients per day around the region. The patients subject to the mental health act being transported anywhere in the country using the new, discrete, vehicles.
Paul Fee, Contracts Manager for the Trust said, “We believe this kind of co-managed contract is the first of its kind in the country. The Trust’s aim was to reduce overheads and administration of the two services, providing one point of contact and increasing the flexibility and responsiveness for all our patients.”
“This is the first NHS contract for Reliance and we intend to build a long term partnership with the Trust, as we have with all of our customers. Reliance has been providing the expert management of transport services requiring the care of vulnerable people for a number of years, these skills along with the latest in transportation and technology are what Reliance bring to this partnership with the Trust,” said Vernon Button Operations Director of Reliance Care Services.
Reliance are now working with the Trust to benchmark their services and gain the Essence of Care Award for this contract. This again will be a first in the country for Mental Health Patient Transport.