Welcome

Welcome to the Sussex secure mental health transport staff information page.. This page provides you with all the information you need to book our secure transport services including:

  • Secure patient transport
  • Admissions and discharges
  • Hospital outpatients
  • Informal patients
  • Bedwatch and patient companion services

To get started, please call our 24/7 booking line or use our online booking portal.

FAQs

Below are some answers to the most common questions about the service.

What is this service?

EMED Safe Care will provide secure mental health transport services within Sussex Foundation Trust starting from 1st April 2025.

The commissioning organisation for this service is NHS Sussex ICB. Please note that EMED Safe Care is the exclusive provider of secure mental health transport, and no other private ambulance services should be utilised.

Who is providing this service?

EMED Safe Care will provide the patient transport service. EMED Safe Care is a division of EMED Group, one of the UK’s leading health and social care transport providers. As a trusted partner to the NHS and Local Authorities across over 70 contracts, EMED Group delivers over 1.5 million patient journeys every year.

EMED Group has over 3,200 colleagues across the country and deploys a fleet of over 1,100 specialised vehicles. It also has a dedicated national healthcare call centre.

Where is this service provided from?

The service is delivered from the following base location:

Burgess Hill Unit 2,
Panattoni Park
Burgess Hill
BN6 9ZL

What are the hours and days of service?

These secure mental health transport services are operational 24/7, 365 days per year, 366 on a leap year.

How can patients access the service?

You can make a booking for a patient either by calling the EMED Safe Care Transport Booking Office freephone on 0300 777 4477 or by using the online booking portal. Access to the portal is restricted to healthcare professionals who frequently need to book secure mental health transport.

If you need to create a user account for the booking portal, please submit an email to support@emedgroup.co.uk, including your name, email address, hospital name, job title, department/clinic, and line manager. Upon receipt of this information, your account will be created, and you will receive a welcome email containing your login details.

What can we do if we have any concerns or issues with the transport?

EMED Safe Care has an escalation line that can be used in exceptional circumstances if any issues arise or if transport can not be provided within an appropriate timeframe. The number is 0300 011 0175.

What information do I need to have available when making a booking?
  • NHS Number
  • Date of Birth
  • GP Details
  • Mobility requirements
  • Secure Mental Health Risk Assessment – a risk assessment is conducted at the time of booking to determine the patient’s needs and the staffing levels required.
Who can we book this transport for?
  • Is your patient detained under MHA?
  • Is your patient informal but a danger to themselves or others?
  • Does your patient require secure transport to attend a hospital appointment or for section 17 Leave due to being detained under the MHA?
  • Is your patient detained under the MHA and experiencing mobility issues?

This is not an exhaustive list but rather a guide to determine if you require secure transport.

When should I book the transport?

Transport is often the last consideration for people planning a patient journey, so please book as soon as possible to ensure your preferred collection time is available.

What if I see other providers that we used to use?

As the contract begins, you may also notice some of your previous providers undertaking the journeys. That is fine, as long as the journey is booked through EMED. EMED may occasionally use other providers to ensure that the journeys take place in a timely manner.

What if my patient is eligible for transport but does not require secure transport?

EMED is providing all non-emergency transport within Sussex. If you do not require secure mental health transport, please contact 0300 777 4444.

How do I find out more?

If you would like more information about this service, you can call the EMED Safe Care Transport booking office freephone on 0300 777 4477 or email safecare@emedgroup.co.uk

EMED South Wales Safe Care
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Get in touch

If you have any questions about the upcoming patient transport service in Sussex please use our contact form. A member of our team will be happy to help you.

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