21/09/2020
3 Considerations for Ambulance Companies Tendering for NHS Contracts
Winter is always a high-pressure season for the NHS. With long nights and plummeting temperatures, there’s an increased chance of illness and injury. It’s little wonder, therefore, that you may be considering offering the services of your ambulance company to the NHS. However, before you start the NHS tender process, there are a few key points to be aware of.
The NHS Contracts Require Minimum Levels of Cover
From a protection perspective, you must have the right insurance at the right levels to work with the NHS. Your private ambulance service must meet the minimum levels of cover to be in with a chance of winning the contract.
In our experience, many ambulance companies have less than £5m of both Public Liability Insurance and Medical Malpractice Insurance. However, when working for the NHS, you’re likely to need at least £5m – or even £10m in some cases – cover for both.
It’s important to check the insurance requirements of the NHS contract you’re tendering for before submitting an application. This is a free service we offer to all our private ambulance clients.
Read more: What is Public Liability Insurance?
Different NHS Trusts have Different Needs
While we’re sure you’re aware that there are numerous NHS Trusts in the UK, you might not be aware that these may have different insurance requirements.
Even if you’ve carried out work for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust in the past, there’s no guarantee you’ll meet the requirements of a contract for the South East Coast Ambulance Service, for instance. One trust may want £5m of Public Liability cover, while others may want you to have at least £10m.
Again, it’s important to fully review the relevant documents carefully to make sure you get it right.
You’re Not Alone
If it all seems a bit overwhelming, it’s good to know that help is at hand.
As an experienced independent insurance broker, the One Broker Ambulance team will take the time to understand the NHS ambulance tender and explain the insurance implications.
We will talk you through your existing policy and how that relates to any ambulance tenders you may submit. We’ll explain your options and the cost implications for your business too, so you can be confident that you have the right levels of cover for the best possible price.
Simply give the One Broker Ambulance team a call to discuss your NHS contract on 01603 218295 today.
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