Patient transport company goes into administration

Many patients who would struggle to use public transport are taken to appointments by a private firm

Former employees are "concerned" for patients after a company that transports people to medical appointments suddenly went into administration.

The integrated care board for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire [BNSSG ICB] said SVL Healthcare Services ceased services on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the board said they were "confident" that interim arrangements put in place could meet current demand.

SVL Healthcare, which only took over services in the area on 1 August, has been approached for comment.

The ICB spokesperson said SVL notified the board on Tuesday that it was entering administration "and ceased provision of services as of midnight on 27 August".

They added: "Thanks to the prompt deployment of interim arrangements and the support of staff throughout our health and care system we have been able to successfully maintain non-emergency patient transport services."

But Georgia Taylor, 25, who was, until Tuesday, an ambulance care assistant for SVL said: "We are so concerned for the patients.

"People might be waiting for scans to diagnose illnesses which will now be delayed."

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SVL, a CQC-registered provider, undertakes about 500,000 non-emergency journeys across the UK each year, taking patients who are unable to travel without specialist support to and from medical appointments.

The care board spokesperson explained the provision would continue to operate "under interim arrangements going forward" and the ICB was "confident" that it had "sufficient capacity to meet current demand" as it searches for more long-term solutions.

Georgia Taylor is unsure if she will get paid for the past month's work for SVL

'Quite a worry'

Ms Taylor had been with the company since 1 August, but was part of the previous contract for six years.

She said at 21:30 on Tuesday night staff received an email to say "due to circumstances beyond our control" the company was going into administration and they were to "stand down with immediate effect".

"There were crews due in in the morning at 6am. It was quite a worry for everyone," she explained.

Ms Taylor added that former employees had since had no communication from the company and had tried to contact senior staff without success.

'Patients are suffering'

"We have been left without a job and also don't know if we are going to be paid for our month's work.

"It's not fair on the patients, the patients are suffering," said Ms Taylor.

"People have been waiting years for appointments," she said, explaining many had now been postponed or cancelled.

Ms Taylor added the Bristol Ambulance service, which had stepped into temporarily, had been "absolutely amazing".

"They're doing the best that they can and we really appreciate everything that they're doing."

'Use friends or family'

The care board said all booking arrangements continue to be in place and people could check and book services as normal via the BNSSG ICB website.

"We're grateful to all patient transport staff for their support and to local service users for their patience during this challenging time," added the spokesperson.

They said any patients who can travel to appointments with friends or family "helps maintain capacity for those with the greatest need for the service".

"Services for patients undergoing renal dialysis are delivered by another provider and are not affected by this issue," added the spokesperson.