Worcestershire 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  

E-zec Medical Transport Services Ltd operate the non-emergency patient transport contract within Worcestershire. 

To make a booking, call 0300 011 0017.

Further information regarding booking can be found on the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 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 voluntary community car schemes in Worcestershire

Evesham Community Car Scheme

eveshamvolunteers.org.uk

Volunteers use their own cars for trips to medical appointments, such as, the hospital, doctor, dentist, chiropodist and for visiting someone in hospital. The service is also available for visits to the library, shopping and hairdressers. The service is run by Evesham Volunteer Centre.

Contact: 01386 45035

Pershore Volunteer Centre

pershorevolunteers.org.uk

Operate a community car scheme, with volunteer drivers taking clients, who live in and around Pershore, on pre-booked trips. Services include medical appointments and social trips.

Contact: 01386 554299 or use the online form to book.

Worcester Wheels – 01905 450 654  

www.worcesterwheels.org.uk

Drivers with their own cars provide services for people who live in and around the city and rural villages, who find it difficult to access other form of transport.

Contact: 01905 450 654

Malvern Community Action

www.communityaction.org.uk

A car service for the elderly and disabled who cannot get around by other means. Priority is given to medical appointments but services are also available for trips such as shopping and the hairdressers. 

For residents of Barnards Green, Bransford, Great Malvern, Guarlford, Leigh Sinton, Madresfield, Malvern Link, Malvern Wells, Newland, Poolbrook and West Malvern.

Contact: 01684 892381

Upton Community Car Scheme

Volunteers use their own cars to provide transport for the elderly to all medical appointments and hospital and care home visits.

Contact: 01684 593 633  

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