Yesterday marked a significant milestone in the Australian healthcare and transport sectors: the 30th anniversary of National Patient Transport (NPT). For three decades, NPT has provided Non-Emergency Patient Transport services to communities across Australia, playing an indispensable role in our nation’s health response.
The journey started in 1993 when, after the privatisation of National Emergency Patient Transport, Clinictrans began operations. In 2018, NPT was acquired by ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC), one of Australia’s leading transport providers.
Fast forward to 2023 and NPT have grown from a local enterprise into a nationwide service with over 200 vehicles and a more than 800 strong team. These teams have executed over 245,000 transfers yearly across various service platforms, with this year marking the 100,000th patient transfer by the High Acuity Service team.
NPT’s 30-year history is a testament to the incredible contribution of its staff. CEO of NPT, Damian De Zilva, said, “Our teams put patient care above all else. I am profoundly honoured and proud to lead an organisation that, time and time again, steps up for the community, whether it’s during global health crises, natural disasters, or tragic accidents.”
NPT provides additional surge resources to assist healthcare response when demand is high and has also assisted patients to attend events or locations as part of their end of life wishes. During the COVID pandemic NPT worked with their contracted health services to relocate patients from wards and nursing homes.
NPT also supports improved healthcare access and flow for patients, by providing a timely and efficient hospital to home and home to outpatient appointment service. A key focus of the organisation is on streamlining non-emergency patient transport to improve patient access and help reduce hospital bed days.
Mr De Zilva said that the last 30 years have seen NPT grow, evolve, and stand tall in the face of adversity.
“We owe this success to every single member of the NPT family. Together with our parent company ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia, we are poised to continue making a significant impact in the healthcare sector.”
“We hope for continued success in serving the community for many more decades to come.”
ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) CEO, Nicholas Yap, said “NPT’s dedication to service over three decades has made it a true linchpin in the non-emergency patient transport community. NPT holds a unique place in our hearts, with their unparalleled commitment to patients and communities, even during challenging times like the recent pandemic. NPT is a crucial companion on our journey to serve the local communities that are at the heart of our business. ”
