Health Bill [HL]

Amendment 131, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Greengross, would place a duty on primary care trusts and hospital trusts to work with passenger transport authorities, unitary authorities, and county councils to co-ordinate patient transport services with the provision of other passenger transport services. The noble Baroness is absolutely correct that it is vital for the NHS to engage with its local passenger transport authorities and key partners. Providing a health service that is of high quality and is responsive to the needs of the patient lies at the heart of our vision of a modern NHS. Ensuring that people can access those services is part of this aim. I hope that significant steps have already been taken in this area. The Government have introduced a comprehensive policy framework on patient transport services, which clearly sets out the expectation that NHS transport commissioners will work with other transport services when co-ordinating access to healthcare facilities. Following a public consultation, guidance to PCTs published in August 2007 clearly states that they are responsible for commissioning ambulance services and patient transport services to such extent as the PCT considers necessary. Where necessary, patients with a social need for transport may seek reimbursement, as the noble Baroness will know. Alternatively, they may seek assistance in the form of a Social Fund payment. Patients not receiving a qualifying benefit may be eligible for assistance through the NHS Low Income Scheme. We remain clear that multi-agency working can lead to more effective, user-focused transport services. For example, the Northwest Regional Centre of Excellence is soon to publish a document presenting examples of good practice on passenger transport. This will show how health organisations and local authorities have worked together across a range of health, transport, education and social care services to ensure that patients are offered the most appropriate transport service that best meets their individual needs. We are committed to supporting the NHS in ensuring that good practice such as this can be spread more widely. That is the core of what we want to do. There is already a framework in place to support and encourage the NHS to work in partnership with other passenger transport agencies. I hope that the noble Baroness will feel reassured by this brief and rushed answer. As she rightly noted, we have one more amendment to discuss. I hope that she will feel able to withdraw her amendment.