EMED Group recently congratulated ACA Tracy Burchell, who is celebrating 35 years in Patient Care – quite an achievement! Tracy started work in 1989 with Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service at a time when the uniform for women was a blouse with a tie, a hat, skirt, tights and court shoes with heels. Ambulances back then didn’t have ramps – stretchers were lifted in by hand – and smoking was permitted inside!
The origins of patient transport in the UK can be traced back to the formation of the NHS in 1948. In the early years, the focus was mainly on emergency services. However, it quickly became apparent that many patients – especially the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill – required reliable transport to and from hospitals for non-urgent care.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, non-emergency transport services became more organised, typically managed by local NHS trusts or voluntary organisations like St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross. These organisations provided transportation to those unable to travel independently because of mobility issues or medical conditions. By the 1980s, demand for these services had grown, leading to more formalised systems across the country.
The 1990s marked a turning point, as the NHS started contracting private providers like EMED Group to assist with the increasing demand for patient transport. This allowed the NHS to focus more on emergency care while ensuring patients who needed routine transport could still access services. As healthcare delivery became more specialised, the role of Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPTS) expanded to include inter-hospital transfers and transportation for dialysis patients, chemotherapy and other regular treatments.
In recent years, technology has improved the coordination and efficiency of NEPTS. Digital booking systems and GPS tracking now allow for better resource management, helping to ensure patients get to their appointments on time while reducing delays and costs.
Today, of course, NEPTS is a vital part of the NHS, helping thousands of patients daily. It continues to evolve, balancing patient care with the need for cost-efficiency, ensuring that all patients, regardless of their mobility or health conditions, can access the care they need.