DORSET'S patient transfer service is still failing to meet its targets, has gone £2m over expected budget- and more than 13,000 journeys have been aborted in the last year.

But complaints against E-zec- the company contracted to carry out non-emergency journeys in Dorset- are expected to rise as it applies its eligibility criteria more stringently to get a grip on the situation.

Aborted journeys are causing 'significant cost' to the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and means 'those patients who really need transport are not getting it.'

As reported in the Echo, the E-zec service was labelled as 'diabolical' last year with patients missing appointments or not being picked up in a catalogue of errors.

In March, councillors on Dorset's Health and Scrutiny committee were told improvements were being made.

But they ordered a report to get to the bottom of exactly how many journeys were being aborted and eligibility criteria.

That report is now ready and shows that not only were 13,217 journeys aborted from April 2014- March 2015, but that key targets are being missed.

These include;

Service users arriving at destination by appointment time- achieving 86 per cent against 95 per cent target

Service users being collected up to 45 after their identified 'ready' time- 83 per cent against 90 per cent target

The service has also cost £2m more than the previous service, which was provided by South West Ambulance Trust and ad hoc arrangements with other providers.

The report, by CCG deputy director of review, design and delivery Emma Seria-Walker, says; 'The initial budget set for the PTS (Patient Transfer Service), based on activity from the previous service [...] was £3.6m. In 2014/5 the PTS service has cost the NHS Dorset CCG £5.6m.

"The increased spend has resulted in NHS Dorset CCG requiring further assistance from E-zec on a number of areas relating to the contract to ensure that the finite resources we have are used effectively and appropriately.'

The CCG is seeking assurance from E-zec that it is applying eligibility criteria stringently, that staff are well-versed in this criteria and that the company is 'doing everything they can to mitigate against an aborted journey.'

However, Dorset County Hospital has the lowest number of aborted journeys across the county. But governors have raised concerns after speaking to dialysis and stroke patients as it's still 'hit and miss.'

The chief executive ordered a report from the CCG about the situation.

Governor Derek Julian said: "We have spoken to patients and they are saying it's still hit and miss. Sometimes they wait a long time, sometimes they are not picked up and miss appointments."

He questioned why the service was contracted to E-zec when the figures in this latest report show it costs £2m than the previous SWAST-led operation.

"The NHS is not a bottomless pit; it's public money and the more that is spent on services going over predicted budgets, the less there is for treatment and employing nurses and doctors."