THE boss of a company dogged by problems since taking over the patient transport service has blamed “negative and malicious” publicity for forcing it to step back from its contract.

Thousands of patients missed hospital appointments and were left waiting hours for ambulances to take them home when Coperforma took over the Sussex-wide non-emergency ambulance service from the NHS in April.

Subcontractors also complained about being owed money because of a dispute over payments.

It was announced last week that South Central Ambulance was to take over the contract by next April.

Describing the move as a “friendly divorce” Coperforma chief executive Michael Clayton admitted the company had problems at the start but said the service had improved since then.

He said criticism when the launch of the service ran into trouble was inevitable and correct.

He said: “Wrong decisions were made for which I take responsibility and we badly let down many patients.

“However, even when the problems were quickly identified and rectified and the service began performing better than it had ever done under the previous provider, the negative and malicious, largely politically inspired publicity continued relentlessly, against the company, our staff and contractors and the commissioners.

“Politicians joined and the situation was raised in Parliament.”

Mr Clayton said the company was facing an unwinnable battle and it was feared the service would break down completely, threatening the safety and wellbeing of patients, so it was decided to raise the notion of stepping back from the contract.

Gary Palmer from the GMB union said: “Publicity only followed Coperforma’s negative public performance, rightly raised by those who do care for the service.

"The efforts of the staff along with many organisations like the GMB union, Defend the NHS and in particular the cross-party Parliamentary work undertaken locally brought about the only result which would guarantee patient safety in the long run.”