EAST Anglian Ambulance trust has won back the contract to deliver patient transport services.Essex Ambulance has provided the service to the county since 1998 but now nearly £2million a year looks to be ploughed into the service by East Anglia and a consortium of East Suffolk's health trusts.
EAST Anglian Ambulance trust has won back the contract to deliver patient transport services.
Essex Ambulance has provided the service to the county since 1998 but now nearly £2million a year looks to be ploughed into the service by East Anglia and a consortium of East Suffolk's health trusts.
The service is in place to take non-emergency patients to and from hospital for appointments and for surgery if they are unable to use public transport or drive themselves.
Around 50 staff, currently working for Essex Ambulance will be transferred to East Anglian Ambulance Trust.
During the next five years nearly £1million is to be spent on 23 new vehicles to operate the service.
The service itself will cost more than the one Essex was providing and looks to cost around £1.75million a year.
This money will be provided by a consortium within East Suffolk health services.
Central Suffolk, Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Primary Care Trusts, Ipswich Hospital and the Local Health Partnership Mental Health Services will all be putting the money in.
Matthew Ware, spokesman for the East Anglian Ambulance Trust said: "It will be a higher quality service in terms of the costs actually increasing.
"Everything in that area is now being provided by East Anglian Ambulance Trust which should mean it will all run smoothly for patients."
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