The NHS has launched an investigation into Coperforma’s performance after many complaints regarding its ambulance service.

The £63.5m contract, that resulted in the privatisation of NHS non-urgent transport in Sussex by Coperforma, is thought to have failed to perform adequately, often leaving many patients waiting for several hours for ambulance pick-up. The NHS bodies and other local MPs have criticised Coperforma performance saying it was an “absolute shambles”.

Many problems have arisen since Coperforma replaced the NHS’s South East Coast ambulance service: cancer patients have missed oncology appointments after ambulances failed to turn up to collect them; hospital staff have had to stay overnight to ensure vital dialysis to kidney patients; and many patients had to wait in hospital for prolonged periods for their transportation.

Conservative MP for Lewes and former NHS nurse Maria Caulfield said: “Such an unreliable service being provided to residents is simply unacceptable and, as a nurse, I am very aware of how this could have a direct impact upon the health of patients as well as create unwarranted delays within our hospitals and GP surgeries.”

Coperforma’s chief executive Michael Clayton has apologised for the “unreliable” and “inefficient” services, blaming the former transport services provider, Secamb, for the chaotic situation.

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