Written question WQ91369
- Asked by
- Jack SargeantLabour
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 12 days
Question
What consideration is given by health service providers to the availability of reliable transport options when arranging appointments for older patients?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Health Boards discharge their responsibility for planning and securing non-emergency patient transport services (NEPTS), including those provided to older people, through the Emergency Ambulance Services Committee (EASC).
EASC sets out a range of commissioning intentions annually for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to deliver, and the Trust works with a range of third sector and private providers to deliver services in line with those commissioning expectations.
The Trust is currently developing preliminary work on a new strategy for its NEPTS services, and assurance has been given to officials that optimising access to these services for older people will be considered as part of this work.
Please see my response to WQs 91367 and 91372 where I set out the current transport support available to older people.