Health courier services transferred from ambulance trust

Responsibility for the planning and delivery of health courier transport services has been moved from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to a separate organisation as part of measures to modernise the service, the Welsh Government announced yesterday (Wednesday April 22).

At a special launch event, Deputy Minister for Health Vaughan Gething will thank NHS staff for their hard work in making the transfer happen with no disruption to the essential courier service.

The change is part of wider ongoing plans to improve ambulance services in Wales and follows recommendations from the independent review into the Welsh Ambulance Service by Professor Siobhan McClelland. The transfer of the health courier transport service is a key part of the Welsh Government’s plans to modernise patient care services.

Health Courier Services will now be provided by the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP), which is an independent organisation, owned and directed by NHS Wales.

Responsibilities being moved include specimen transfers, the transfer of medical records, pathology services and pharmacy services. The transfer has involved around 120 staff and a fleet of more than 70 vehicles.

Vaughan Gething said:

“I am pleased the Health Courier Service has successfully been transferred from the Welsh Ambulance Service. I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work for ensuring it has happened with no disruption to this essential service.

“This service plays a fundamental role in the successful running of the NHS in Wales. This change is an important part of our wider plans to improve ambulance services in Wales.”

Neil Frow, Managing Director, NWSSP said:

“The Project to transfer the HCS to Shared Services has gone really well. There will be future opportunities to develop a flexible service with collection routes planned to optimise efficiency, reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions. The essential work undertaken by HCS can be the type of work that often goes unrecognised, however their role is critical in supporting the work of NHS Wales.”