Agenda item

Ian Ayres (Accountable Officer, NHS West Kent CCG) was in attendance for this item.

(1)       The Chairman welcomed Mr Ayres to the Committee. Mr Ayres began by explaining as part of the tender evaluation, bidders were scored on a weighting of 65% for quality and 35% for value for money. He reported that the service was split into three separate contracts: renal patient transport; transport to and from Dartford and Gravesham Hospital Trust and Kent and Medway patient transport. Bidders were evaluated on their full written submissions, site visits, presentations and interviews with the providers and their existing commissioners. The site visits included observing call handling, the processes and systems used by bidders to manage operations and ride on journeys to observe patient care. A member of the Project Board included an experienced manager of Patient Transport Services who provided advice on staffing rotas and fleet plans.  He stated that G4S was awarded all three contracts; he noted that the three separate contracts may be brought together in the future. He explained that key performance indicators and automatic penalties had been strengthened in the new contract and the contract would be reviewed and rebalanced if required within the first six months. He noted that preparatory work for the mobilisation phase was being undertaken.

(2)       Members of the Committee then proceeded to ask a series of questions and make a number of comments. A number of comments were made about capacity, discharge and contract signing. Mr Ayres explained that a triangulation activity had been tested and data had been more accurately recorded and captured for capacity. Mr Ayres stressed the importance of G4S in engaging and building the trust of the acute providers to improve discharge. As part of the service specification, G4S were required to have more senior management on each site, working closely with nursing and care homes and using a much better IT system to record data. He noted that there were stricter key performance indicators about collection within a specific time period. Mr Ayres stated that the contracts would be signed in February; all contentious issues had been resolved but the CCG and G4S were working through the smaller details of the contract such as using NSL bases and vehicles. G4S were developing a flexible fleet with vehicles that could be adapted to carry wheelchairs and trollies.  He noted that the previous provider’s frontline staff were found to be very caring and compassionate and would be TUPEd to the new provider. 

(3)       In response to a specific question about contract management, Mr Ayres explained that the North Kent CCGs would manage the Dartford and Gravesham Hospital Trust contract and West Kent CCG would managed the renal and the rest of Kent and Medway contract. He noted that the two contract management teams had and would continue to work together as they were transformed into mobilisation teams.

(4)       RESOLVED that the report be noted and NHS West Kent CCG be requested to provide an update to the Committee about the mobilisation phase in September 2016 including details about patient experience.