West Sussex other schemes

Patient Transport Services

NHS Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS)

Services are available to those who are unable to use public or other transport due to a medical condition. Eligibility criteria is based on the Department of Health guidance. This includes people who are:

• attending hospital outpatient clinics
• being admitted to or discharged from hospital wards
• needing life-saving treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or renal dialysis or DVT treatment

Each NHS trust has its own criteria for arranging transport, but it normally requires a referral from a GP. It is worth noting that NHS hospital transport is often shared transport and can involve long wait times. 

You can find your nearest NHS hospital through the NHS website and the hospital website will have details of the Patient Transport provider.

South Central Ambulance Service

South Central Ambulance Service website

Provide non-emergency hospital transport in West Sussex.

Some private companies provide hospital transport or patient transfer in West Sussex. It is advised you contact the operators below to obtain a quote. 

Reliance Ambulance

Reliance Ambulance website

Contact: 01276 423553

Sussex Medical Services

Sussex Medical Services website

Contact: 0845 388 8485 (charges apply).

Voluntary Community Cars

These are voluntary groups set up in local neighbourhoods to help people who are vulnerable or isolated access medical appointments. Some schemes can assist with shopping and other excursions. 

Good Neighbours Community Care

There are over seventy Good Neighbour schemes currently operating in the county. Schemes are run by volunteers and rely on volunteer drivers. They use their own vehicles and cannot always accommodate wheelchairs. Always check with the organisation to see how they can help. 

Clients must register with the scheme. A donation may be requested to help cover the volunteer’s petrol costs.

West Sussex County Council have published a list of all schemes/transport providers on their website.

Amberley Good Neighbour Scheme (Amberley Parish)

Medical appointments only. Contact: 01798 831 159   

Henfield Medical Link  

Henfield Medical Link website

Covers medical appointments in Henfield, Partridge Green, Shermanbury, Woodcote, Cowfold,Wineham, Twineham, Small Dole,Fulking and Edburton.

Contact: 01273 493 172

Pulborough Community Transport volunteer    

Pulborough Community Transport volunteer website

Driver scheme where volunteers use their own cars to offer lifts. They do have one wheelchair accessible vehicle though.

Contact: 07591 258 409

Steyning & District Good Neighbours Association 

Steyning & District Good Neighbours Association website

(Also covers Beeding, Bramber, Botolph’s, Annington, Ashurst & Wiston.)  

Contact: 01903 816181

Storrington Area Help Scheme       

Contact: 01903 742124 580 

Community Transport West Sussex – Volunteer Car scheme

This is offered in the Mid Sussex ward, but they will try to offer services in Crawley and Horsham, subject to having volunteer drivers. 

Volunteer drivers can take clients to hospital appointments. For more information, please contact:  

• Crawley: enquiry@crawleyct.org.uk
• Horsham: horsham@ctsussex.org.uk
• Mid Sussex: enquiry@ctsussex.org.uk

Lift shares   

Part of the national Lift Share Scheme encouraging drivers to be more sustainable by offering lifts on routes they are already driving. 

You can register a particular route in your area, that you wish to take. The scheme will match you with drivers making the same journey.

Local charities

Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove

A ‘Take Home & Settle’ service for elderly, vulnerable people which assists with journeys home following a discharge from hospital. 

Contact Age UK: 01903 717 130

Currently run from Crawley Hospital and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, The Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath and East Surrey Hospital. 

West Sussex Community Minibus Scheme   

A charity providing a community minibus in rural villages in the Horsham ward – with some coverage in Petworth (Chichester).

Contact: 0300 772 7735

The service relies on volunteers and they are not licensed to carry wheelchair passengers. They can accommodate passengers with walking frames. 

Areas covered: Ashington, Billingshurst, Petworth (Chichester) Pulborough, Steyning, Storrington, Wisborough Green and the following villages :Aldingbourne, Eastergate, Barnham, Walberton and Yapton. Occasionally, additional trips or outings can be provided.

The minibuses can provide transport for shopping trips and into the towns of Chichester, Worthing, Guildford, and Midhurst. 

Village Bus Amberley & Slindon   

A 14-seater minibus operated by volunteer drivers for residents of Amberley and Slindon villages. Timetable are available online. 

Operates weekly and monthly routes to Bognor Regis, Storrington, Pulborough, Worthing, Rustington and Chichester. Call in advance if using a wheelchair.

For Amberley, contact: 01798 831 803             
For Slindon, contact: 01243 814 604

Adur and Worthing Royal Voluntary Service 

A volunteer car service to take people to medical appointments (including hospitals) also shopping, social and hairdressers. They can take walking frames and folding wheelchairs but passengers must be able to transfer independently into car.

Contact: 07925 50912 (Lines open from 9:30am – 12:30pm.)

Covers Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham and Southwick. Can take people to Chichester, Brighton and Haywards Heath. Mileage of 60p a mile is charged. 

Handcross Community Bus    

A 16-seater minibus covering Balcombe, Bolney, Handcross, Lower Beeding, Pease Pottage, Plummers Plain, Slaugham, Staplefield, Warningfield. Timetabled trips to Horsham, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

Contact Christina on 079486 40736

Midhurst Yellow Bus

A volunteer minibus service operating in & around Midhurst, four mornings a week. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday.) 

This service is free if you have a bus pass. They also organise community outings that can be booked in advance.

Contact: 07879 556568