This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-37832376
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Hospital transport firm Coperforma 'to be stripped of contract' | Hospital transport firm Coperforma 'to be stripped of contract' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A patient transport service criticised over delays in taking patients to hospital in Sussex is to be stripped of its contract, the BBC understands. | A patient transport service criticised over delays in taking patients to hospital in Sussex is to be stripped of its contract, the BBC understands. |
Thousands signed a petition calling on the NHS to end its contract with Coperforma, which took over non-emergency hospital transport in April. | Thousands signed a petition calling on the NHS to end its contract with Coperforma, which took over non-emergency hospital transport in April. |
Patients claim they have suffered delays in reaching appointments. | Patients claim they have suffered delays in reaching appointments. |
BBC health correspondent Mark Norman said it would be a "managed transition" to South East Coast Ambulance Service. | |
He said he understood Coperforma had signed the necessary legal documents and staff would be told this morning. | He said he understood Coperforma had signed the necessary legal documents and staff would be told this morning. |
South Coast Ambulance Service currently operates ambulances and patient transport services in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire. | South Coast Ambulance Service currently operates ambulances and patient transport services in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Oxfordshire. |
NHS High Weald Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Coperforma have both been contacted for comment. | NHS High Weald Lewes Havens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Coperforma have both been contacted for comment. |
'Over the moon' | 'Over the moon' |
Gary Palmer of the GMB union said he was "delighted" at the news but added it meant "six months of very hard work to make sure the transition is done smoothly and our members are protected". | Gary Palmer of the GMB union said he was "delighted" at the news but added it meant "six months of very hard work to make sure the transition is done smoothly and our members are protected". |
Louise Woods, a dialysis patient from Crawley, spoke of her relief. "It's what we have been after for months," she said. | Louise Woods, a dialysis patient from Crawley, spoke of her relief. "It's what we have been after for months," she said. |
Sub-contractors had complained they had also suffered delays with being paid. | Sub-contractors had complained they had also suffered delays with being paid. |
One staff member working for sub-contractor Docklands, Steve Barton, said he was "over the moon". | One staff member working for sub-contractor Docklands, Steve Barton, said he was "over the moon". |
"We are going back in-house, so we won't have wasted time in patient journeys because of logistics. It's going to take time to adjust again but it will benefit everyone eventually." | "We are going back in-house, so we won't have wasted time in patient journeys because of logistics. It's going to take time to adjust again but it will benefit everyone eventually." |