Patient transport

The service provides a range of vehicles such as ambulance cars, ambulances with wheelchair and stretcher securing facilities, dependent upon an individual’s circumstances.

All requests for patient transport are assessed on medical need; please see below for more information about who is eligible, booking information, and possible alternative transport services.

Who is eligible for patient transport?

The expectation remains that patients will make their own transport arrangements where they can, and that this service is only for those whose medical need prevents them from using private or public transport.

The patient transport service offers a means of safe travel for patients, in non-emergency situations, who have certain medical needs. Non-emergency patient transport within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is provided by EMED Patient Care. Patient transport is available for those who require assistance in getting to their appointments or place of care, because:

• They have a medical need such as requiring oxygen or specialist equipment to travel safely
•  They have limited mobility (e.g. needing a wheelchair or stretcher)
•  They have a cognitive or sensory impairment

The patient transport service will not be provided for social or financial reasons and will only transport to and from places that provide NHS treatment, or between one NHS provider and another.

How to arrange patient transport

You can find out more about patient transport, or how to make a booking through your Healthcare Provider or by calling EMED Patient Care on 0300 777 1800.

When booking patient transport, the existing East Midlands Non-Emergency Patient Transport service eligibility criteria will continue to be applied fairly to ensure those most in need continue to receive this service.

Alternative transport schemes

Patients maybe entitled to claim through the Health Care Travel Cost Scheme for reimbursement of some travel costs. Find out more about the Health Care Travel Cost Scheme.

For those who do not meet the eligibility criteria, there are also a number of community schemes run by volunteers and charities, who may charge a small fee for the service: