Staffordshire 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

ERS Medical operate the non-emergency patient transport contract across Staffordshire. 

Patients from the following CCGs can call and book non-emergency patient transport, if they meet the transport eligibility criteria.

• Stafford and Surrounds CCG
• Cannock Chase CCG
• East Staffordshire CCG
• South East Staffordshire and Seisdon Peninsular CCG
• North Staffordshire CCG
• Stoke on Trent CCG
• NHS Midlands Partnership Foundation Trust

For information on how to request Non-Emergency Patient Transport, please call 0800 035 6511.

Further information, including eligibility criteria, can be found on the ERS Medical 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.  

Voluntary community car schemes

You can find a list of community transport providers, including community car schemes, on the Staffordshire County Council website.

Cannock Chase District

Rugeley/Chase Voluntary Car Scheme

Supporting people to attend medical appointments by providing transport by volunteer drivers. Covers: Rugeley, Brereton, Armitage, Colton, Little Haywood, Hednesford, Cannock, Heath Hayes, Norton Canes, Wimblebury, Huntington, Hazelslade, Gentleshaw, Chase Terrace, Cannock Wood and Burntwood.

Contact: 01543 303025

East Staffordshire Borough

East Staffordshire voluntary car scheme

A voluntary car scheme to help service users to make those essential journeys to hospitals, doctors, dentists and opticians. Covers East Staffordshire district and surrounding areas.

Burton – 01283 538385
Uttoxeter – 07526 703108
eaststaffsvoluntarycarscheme@gmail.com

Lichfield District

Kings Bromley Voluntary Car Scheme

For those without transport, a volunteer driver can make trips to the doctors, dentist and hospitals.

Contact: 01543 473151 

Lichfield and District Voluntary Car Scheme

Supporting people in the community to attend medical appointments. Transport is provided by volunteer drivers.

Contact: 01543 303023

Newcastle Borough

Loggerheads and Ashley Voluntary Car Scheme

Contact: 07523512934

Newcastle Community and Voluntary Support – Door2Door Transport Scheme 

A community transport service for residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent.

Contact: 01782 621936

Madeley and District Community and Voluntary Transport 

Volunteer drivers are available to offer lifts to people who are unable to get to doctors, hospital and any medical appointments. These services are available to people living in the local rural area and a small cost is involved to cover driver expenses. 

Covers: Madeley area, Maer, Keele, Betley, Hill Chorlton, Onneley, Chapel Chorlton, Woore, Baldwins Gate, Whitmore, Loggerheads and Ashley. 

Contact: 01782 751164 

South Staffordshire District

Brewood Voluntary Car Scheme

Covers Brewood, Coven, Coven Heath, Wheaton Aston, Calf Heath, Bishops Wood, Blymhill, Weston Under Lizard, Lapley, Stretton and Hatherton.

Contact: 01902 851786

Landywood and District Voluntary Car Scheme

Covers Landywood, Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay.

Contact: 01922 418381

Penkridge and Acton Trussell Voluntary Social Car Scheme 

This service is for the elderly and less mobile. Visits include the Clinic and Surgery, Pinfold Lane, Penkridge. Also, out-patient visits to Stafford, Cannock, New Cross and Stoke-on-Trent Hospitals, as well as Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, and Manor Hospital, Walsall.   

The service can also be used to visit patients in a hospital or in a nursing home, as well as shopping, post office and library visits.   

Contact: 01785 714386 

Stafford Borough

Barlaston Volunteer Car Scheme

A voluntary transport scheme for the residents of the village of Barlaston without their own transport.  Lifts can be arranged for medical appointments, shopping etc.

Contact: 01782 373643

Colwich and Haywoods Voluntary Car Scheme

Transport for visits to surgeries, hospitals, shops and social meetings.

Covers Colwich, Great Haywood, Little Haywood, Moreton, Coley and Bishton.

Contact: 01889 883033

Fulford Parish Voluntary Car Scheme

A voluntary car scheme helping service users make essential journeys to hospitals, doctors, dentists and opticians.

Contact: 07907 496048

Eccleshall Voluntary Car Scheme

Transport for elderly people to medical appointments when they have no other access to transport.

Contact: 01785 851381 or 07816 419166

Gnosall and District Voluntary Car Scheme

Transport for elderly and disabled residents with no access to public transport or who may have difficulty accessing transport. Can accommodate wheelchair users, and arrange visits to hospitals, doctor’s surgeries and shopping.

Covers Gnosall and a five-mile radius.

Contact: 01785 822802

Age Concern (Stone) Voluntary Car Scheme

A car transport scheme to take older people, who are unable to drive themselves, to hospital appointments in Stoke, Stafford and Cannock.

Contact: 01785 817906

Companion driving services

As well as using regular taxis, there are also care providers who provide paid companion driver services. They should be registered with the local authority in the same way as regular taxis. 

Driving Miss Daisy

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

Contact: 0333 014 6211