Patient Conveyance

Concepts

• chester
• health services
• patients
• all adult mental health patients
• patient flow manager
• conveyance
• patient
• mental health inpatient units
• mental health crisis
• psr

Location

Chester

Description

The Rapid Response capacity and resource deployment is co-ordinated centrally by Rapid Response Co-ordinators, based in the First Response Hub and overseen by the First Response Hub Co-ordinator and Patient Flow Manager. The service will provide safe, effective, and appropriate transport for people who have been assessed as requiring an admission to a mental health bed for all adult mental health patients within the CWP footprint. This will include transport from AED departments. This will include patients who have agreed to informal admission, patients who are recommended for detention under sections of the Mental Health Act (1983) (Section 2,3 and 4). Diagnosis will not exclude support from the service and transport will be mobilised following robust clinical risk assessment of individuals requiring the transport as documented Where a Section 2, Section 3, or Section 4 detention has been recommended (whether in the community or at AED), the Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) is responsible for determining the level of conveyance required for the patient. This includes considering the number of staff needed to escort the transport and the appropriate vehicle for the patient's needs. The service has access to wheelchair-accessible vehicles as well as vehicles offering more secure options for patients in mental health crisis.

Total Quantity or Scope

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to decision makers by 21st August 2025 to cwp.contracts@nhs.net. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR. This service was commissioned after a successful pilot to support safely transporting patients to mental health inpatient units once the patient has been assessed and met the criteria for an inpatient stay. The incumbent provider are established in the delivery of the service. There are no concerns with the current provider for the delivery of this service. The plan is to go out to competitive tender for this service within the current financial year. Therefore there is a need to extend this contract so there is no break in service. There has been no substantial change to the nature or cost of the service delivered. The existing provider is satisfying the original contract and will likely satisfy the proposed contract to a sufficient standard" with the weighting 100

Award Detail

CPV Codes

• 85100000 - Health services

Indicators

• Award on basis of price and quality.

Legal Justification

This is a Provider Selection Regime (PSR) intention to award notice. The awarding of this contract is subject to the Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of the Procurement Act 2023 do not apply to this award. The standstill period begins on the day after the publication of this notice. Representations by providers must be made to the relevant authority by 21st August 2025. This contract has not yet formally been awarded; this notice serves as an intention to award under the PSR.

Other Information

Quality & Innovation: The service is required to comply with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) policies and procedures regarding conveyancing and prioritize the safety and well-being of patients during transport. This includes using appropriate vehicles, humane handling, and ensuring the patient's dignity is respected. The service is also required to collaborate effectively with relevant clinical and operational staff. The service improves individual experience as it avoids protracted waits in AED for transport. The service provides response times within 1 hour, continuity of patient experience, the provider is fully CQC registered and compliance and previous experience of the provider in supporting transport of people experiencing mental health crisis. Weighting 20% Value: Alternative transport service helps reduce unnecessary ambulance journeys to hospitals, and Police assistance freeing up these wider resources for those who truly need them. Timely transport reduces pressures across the system (AED) with the individual being admitted to a mental health bed where their needs can be met. Weighting 20% Integration, collaboration and service sustainability: The service functions via integration with other health and social services, such as psychiatric inpatient units, mental health professionals, and social support systems. This enables a more cohesive approach to mental health care, to improve outcomes for individuals. As noted above the service will go out to competitive tender this financial year, therefore extending the contract will ensure continuity of care to some of our most vulnerable people in society. A break in service would be a risk to patient safety and agreed local obligations. Weighting 20% Improving access, reducing health inequalities and facilitating choice: The staff are with professionals trained in dealing with mental health crises, ensuring that patients are treated with the appropriate care and understanding to reduce the risk of harm to patients during transport. A mental health-focused response prevents an individual's crisis from escalating into a dangerous situation, reducing potential harm to themselves or others. Weighting 20% Social value: The provider is local (within the CWP footprint), employing people from the local area. Training and career development opportunities fare available for staff. The provider also has a number of charity partners and provides a range of services outside of this current contract, including help at home, supported housing, respite - thus offering numerous health & wellbeing benefits to the community. Weighting 20%