Every year, thousands of patients make the journey to and from hospital for outpatient appointments.

In 2010/11 over 70,000 journeys were made by Hywel Dda patients in non-emergency transport vehicles provided through the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, local authorities and the voluntary sector.

Non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) is an essential service for those patients with a medical need who are unable to access hospital. It is a service that the Hywel Dda Health Board is currently reviewing through a collaborative initiative with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, the local authorities and the voluntary sector.

ICARHS (Improving Community Access to Rural Health Services) is one of four pilot projects across Wales that have been selected by the Welsh Government to be used to test how improvements in NEPT could be delivered.

As part of the project, a number of initiatives have been undertaken in order to engage with stakeholders and to consult on key issues.

The project has already identified a need to raise awareness about the process of requesting NEPT for those patients who are eligible for assistance.

It has also been acknowledged that many patients also prefer to make their own way to hospital and would not use non-emergency ambulance transport.

For those patients who have a medical need and require transport for their first appointment at hospital, the patient is required to phone the Transport Booking Centre, which is 0844 8700888 for Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire residents and 0845 840 1234 for Ceredigion residents.

Transport for follow up appointments is booked through the clinic/ward that the patient is attending.

When booking transport it is important that all the required details are available.

That is, the patient's address (including postcode), NHS number and details of the appointment.

When requesting transport, the patient is asked a series of questions in order to assess their eligibility for transport. Those that are not eligible can be provided with details of alternative transport resources that are available.

Where transport has been arranged and a hospital appointment has been changed or cancelled, it is very important for patients to remember to update their transport booking.

This can be done by contacting the Transport Booking Centre on the number above and can help ensure no space on vehicles is wasted.

Peter Llewellyn, head of strategic partnerships for Hywel Dda Health Board explained that "This is a challenging project that has identified the need for some redesign of the transport system.

"Partners are working together to ensure that resources are channelled effectively to those with greatest need. It is not about a free high quality system for all but how we can improve the quality of the service for those in genuine need of it."

If you have any feedback that you wish to provide regarding non emergency patient transport, please contact Owen Roberts, Transport Development Officer, ICARHS Project, on 01267 228358 or email [email protected]">[email protected]