A NEW non-emergency transport service is being launched in Dorset to get patients to appointments.

The countywide service is for people registered with a GP practice who need help to attend pre-booked appointments at clinics and hospitals.

The NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) designed the service after talks with treatment centres and patient groups.

The new Dorset Patient Transport Bureau service starts transporting people tomorrow and is currently taking bookings.

It will be run by E-zec Medical, a family run company set up by former NHS personnel in 1998.

Jane Pike, director of service delivery with NHS Dorset CCG, said: “The past few months have seen us working very closely with the E-zec team to ensure that from day one, patient transport services for local people are flexible, reliable and most of all meet their needs.

“We are confident the new service will offer improvements on existing arrangements and will also demonstrate good value for money for local tax payers”.

The Dorset Patient Transport Bureau, located in Bournemouth, will process bookings. It aims to ensure patients with a medical need receive transport suitable to their requirements.

A separate 24-hour booking line is available for NHS personnel booking transport on a patient’s behalf.

To ensure all mobility requirements and weather conditions are catered for, a fleet of vehicles ranging from four-wheel drive ambulance cars to ambulances has been provided.

E-zec Medical operates a number of NHS contracts, including a patient transport service in Hampshire.

Paul Swann, managing director of E-zec, said: “We are looking forward to serving the people of Dorset and applying our expertise to improve the patient experience for local people. We can’t wait to get started.” Anyone with a medical need for transport, can call the Dorset Patient Transport Bureau on 0300 777 5555.

It is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Visit dorsetptb.co.uk for details or pick up an information leaflet from an NHS centre.