The East of England Ambulance Service has taken over several non-emergency transport contracts after the Private Ambulance Service went into administration last week.

Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) announced the move after HMRC issued a winding-up order for the private service.  

Speaking on behalf of the consortia of NHS organisations that buy health care services in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, Kathryn Magson, accountable officer for Herts Valleys CCG, said: “Making sure that we provide a quality, safe service for our patients is our absolute priority.

“We have been working closely with Unison and the East of England Ambulance Service to ensure that we can deliver continuity of service at this difficult time, and we are satisfied that the new caretaker arrangements will help us to deliver this as a matter of urgency.

“We hope that returning the contract for non-emergency transport to an established NHS provider will give assurance to our patients.

“Together with East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust and the hospitals, we are working hard to make sure that disruption is kept to an absolute minimum during this transition.

“However some non-urgent appointments may be rescheduled while the new contract establishes so that we can prioritise patients who are being discharged from hospital or attending appointments for cancer treatments and dialysis.”

Robert Morton, chief executive of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust, added: “As part of the NHS family, we have come together to ensure that patients get the care they need, when they need it. 

“Our focus right now is ensuring services continue over the coming days and that staff are supported in their workplace.”