Derbyshire other schemes

Patient Transport Services    

  The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS) is for patients who:    

• Need to travel to and from an appointment at a hospital or clinic    
• Are discharged from hospital (and meet the eligibility criteria), or    
• Need to transfer between centres, and because of their medical condition cannot make their own way.    

Meeting the eligibility criteria for transport    

The criteria that determine whether or not you are eligible for NEPTS have been set by the Department of Health and are based upon whether your medical condition prevents you from travelling by any other means. 

All operators of patient transport are now required to apply these rules, so whilst you may have previously been able to use patient transport this may no longer be the case if you are not deemed eligible.    

Making a booking   

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) operate the non-emergency patient transport contract within Derbyshire.    

You can find out more about Patient Transport, or how to make a booking, through your GP, Healthcare Provider or by calling EMAS on 0300 300 3434. 

Further information can be found on the EMAS website. 

Voluntary community cars    

Managed by a mixture of volunteers and charities, community cars can help people to stay independent, participate in their communities and access vital public services and employment. They can help you go shopping, get to medical appointments, visit friends and family or enjoy a day out.    

Most need to be booked in advance and may have eligibility criteria you need to meet.      

Practical things to think about and questions to ask when looking for a community transport provider include:    

• What type of journey are you making? Some schemes are specific and can only help in certain situations, for example, medical appointments.    
• Are you eligible to use the scheme?    
• Does the scheme cover your area? There are many good neighbour volunteer schemes in rural parts of the country which are for people who live in those villages.    
• How much notice is required to book a trip?     
• Is there a cost involved?    
• How to book?    
• Does it meet any accessibility requirements you have? For example, wheelchairs and scooters or getting in and out of the car.     

Selected community car schemes  

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel

Provide weekday door-to-door transport to local hospitals and other health appointments, for people unable to access public buses because of age, disability or because they live in areas where transport is limited.

Volunteer cars and accessible vehicles can carry passengers using wheelchairs. Passenger assistants may be arranged if required. Trips must be booked in advanced, and travel fares apply.

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel Amber Valley and Erewash

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel Amber Valley and Erewash is for residents within the boundaries of Amber Valley or Erewash borough council areas.

Contact: 01159 309134 or enquiries@erewashct.com

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire is for residents within the boundaries of Bolsover, Chesterfield and East Derbyshire district and borough council areas.

Contact: 01709 323123 or gulfraz@activeresponsetransport.co.uk

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales

Derbyshire Connect Active Travel High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales is for residents within the boundaries of South Derbyshire and the Southern Derbyshire Dales district council areas.

Contact: 01283 219761 (South Derbyshire), 03333 444125 (Southern Derbyshire Dales) or office@sdcvs.org.uk

For further details regarding Derbyshire Connect Active Travel, visit the Derbyshire County Council website.

Companion driving services   

Paid companion driver services should be registered with the local authority in the same way as regular taxis.    

Helping Hands   

Helping Hands focus on tasks such as running errands, grocery shopping and support with social activities.     

Contact: 0333 060 4041

Driving Miss Daisy  

Driving Miss Daisy is a national organisation who have franchises across the region.    

Contact: 0333 014 6211