Secure Transport Services For Mental Health Patients

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board is seeking a provider to deliver secure transport services for mental health patients across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The contract covers the provision of safe, timely and compassionate patient transport between healthcare and community settings, including acute hospitals, inpatient mental health units, community locations and other clinically appropriate destinations across the UK. Services will include hospital-to-hospital transfers, community admissions, discharge-related transport and other clinically required journeys.

The successful provider will be required to deliver a flexible and responsive service capable of supporting routine, urgent and high-risk transfers. This includes the transport of patients detained under the Mental Health Act, individuals requiring enhanced supervision, and those needing secure transport arrangements or specialist handling.

According to the procurement documents, services must operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, throughout the year. Providers will be expected to meet defined response times, including urgent responses within one hour and standard responses within two hours. The service must be supported by an appropriately resourced fleet and suitably trained staff, with journey requirements determined through individual risk assessments.

The Health Board has also stated that staff must be trained in trauma-informed care, de-escalation techniques and the safe and proportionate use of restraint where clinically necessary.

Contract Information

• Buyer: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
• Deadline: 27 July 2026, 12:00pm
• Contract Value: £2,500,000
• Delivery Length: Initial three-year contract commencing January 2027, with the option to extend for up to a further two years
• Tender Link: Click here

Service Requirements

The successful provider will be responsible for:

• Secure transport for mental health patients
• Hospital-to-hospital transfers
• Community-to-hospital admissions
• Discharge-related transport
• Urgent and emergency patient transfers
• Transport for patients detained under the Mental Health Act
• Provision of suitable vehicles, including enhanced security transport where required
• Delivery of services on a 24/7 basis

Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

Providers must ensure compliance with all relevant statutory, regulatory and clinical standards, including:

• Mental Health Act requirements
• Safeguarding obligations
• NHS Wales standards
• Healthcare Inspectorate Wales guidance

The Health Board also requires robust arrangements for quality assurance, incident reporting, performance monitoring and continuous service improvement.

Evaluation Criteria

Price is not the sole award criterion. Full evaluation criteria and scoring methodology are detailed within the tender documentation.

Community Benefits

The procurement includes Community Benefits requirements in line with Welsh Government policy. Successful providers will be expected to support social, economic and environmental outcomes, including engagement with local supply chains, support for SMEs, sustainable practices and community wellbeing initiatives.

The opportunity reflects ongoing demand for specialist patient transport services supporting mental health pathways across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, with a focus on patient safety, dignity and responsive care delivery.

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