Multinational security firm G4S has been awarded a lucrative contract to run patient transport services in Kent and Medway.

The company, one of the world's largest private employers, successfully bid for three contracts worth about £90 million to provide free transport for people who are unable to get to and from hospital any other way.

The service is currently provided by troubled Larkfield-based private ambulance operator NSL, which last month said it was withdrawing its bid to renew its contract when it expires in July 2016.

Ian Ayres, chief officer for NHS West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which led the procurement, said G4S had passed through a "rigorous and thorough" selection process in which contractors were assessed on quality and cost.

He said: “They are to provide non-emergency patient transport for eligible patients in Kent and Medway excluding Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; renal patients requiring dialysis; and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust patients.

“There were six bidders in all, several bidding for more than one contract. G4S came top on quality for all three contracts by a significant margin and was lowest on price for one of them.

“G4S has a good track record of delivering high-quality patient transport services across the country, including in London, Essex and Surrey."

He added:“We look forward to working with them and with NSL to ensure a smooth transition.”

All three contracts run for six years with the option to extend by another three.

They include transporting Kent and Medway patients to and from London hospitals and transporting eligible Bexley and Bromley patients to and from Kent and Medway hospitals.

NHS Bexley and NHS Bromley Clinical Commissioning Groups are signed associates to all three contracts.

Drivers and other staff currently employed by NSL are being invited to transfer across.

NHS bosses expect there will be around 316,000 patient journeys in the first year and nearly two million during the six years covered by the contracts.

G4S was rated top in all three bids by a panel of patients, hospital and community NHS staff and commissioners.

Mr Ayres said it marked a significant improvement on the previous procurement of patient transport services in 2012, which was undertaken when clinical commissioning groups, which buy health services for their areas, were still forming.

He said:“A patient representative and other members of the evaluation panels visited premises for all the bidders, went out with crews to watch them at work with patients, listened to how their call centres handle bookings and interviewed staff from hospitals using the service.Patients were also part of the evaluation panels, interviewing bidders.”

Managing director for G4S public services, John Shaw, said his firm's priority under the new contract would be to improve standards and staff levels and training as well as investing in a modernised fleet of ambulances.

He said:"In the coming months and when our final negotiations are completed with the clinical groups, we will step up our consultation and engagement with hospitals and patients to ensure that our service meets their needs.”

Founded in 2004, G4S, operates in 110 countries. It has a diverse portfolio of operations, including cash handling and managing CCTV and intruder alarm systems.

It currently provides patient transport services for several NHStrusts including Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trusts.