A PATIENT transport service faced a surge of calls from patients as a new provider took over.

South Central Ambulance Service has been running the scheme across Sussex since Saturday.

It replaced private firm Coperforma which had numerous problems and delays when it started providing the service a year ago.

South Central deputy chief executive James Underhay said: “All things considered, things have gone reasonably well since April 1 and we are staying on top of it.

“We received more than 1,000 calls from patients on Monday compared to the 300 you would expect on a normal day.

“However this dropped to about 500 or 600 the next day and things are calming down.

“We have had good feedback so far from hospitals, staff and patients.”