'Do you really need 'hospital transport' and are you eligible?'

  1. Qualifying criteria for Patient Transport Services

  2. When does the patient qualify to be escorted?

  3. Objectives for all Trust staff who are booking transport

  4. Alternatives to Patient Transport Services

    Patient Transport Services ('hospital or ambulance transport') to and from Addenbrooke's are provided by the East Anglian Ambulance Trust (EAAT), who have:

    • Two (non-emergency) ambulances;

    • Six cars driven by drivers in livery;

    • One vehicle for discharged patients, which operates from 1200–2030 each day;

    • 'Voluntary' car drivers, who are accountable to the EAAT and are paid on the basis of mileage.

    So that we can provide a quality service for those who are most in need, please do not request patient transport unless it is essential (see below the criteria we use). Addenbrooke's spends well over £1.3 million each year on approx. 164,700 one-way journeys by hospital transport, some of which is money that could be spent on clinical services.

 

(1) Qualifying criteria for Patient Transport Services

  • Patients must be medically unfit to travel by any other means and

  • They must have no alternative means of travelling to or from hospital.

    NB: Elderly or infirm patients only qualify for Patient Transport Services if they meet the above criteria.

 

(2) When does the patient qualify to be escorted?

A patient is allowed one non-medical escort only if:

  • The patient is a child under the age of 16 years and the escort is a parent or guardian;

  • The patient is a dependent patient who is blind, elderly or infirm: the escort may be a relative or carer.

If the patient needs medical supervision: one or more medical escorts are allowed, according to the patient’s medical condition.

Please do not ask for an escort to accompany you if you can manage without one (they will be taking up a place that another patient could use - and we have to pay for them too).

 

(3) Objectives for all Trust staff who are booking transport

  • Encourage patients and their relatives to make their own transport arrangements. On admission, check with the patient who will be collecting them when they are discharged from hospital. Make a note of the name and telephone number of this relative or carer who will collect the patient.

Only when eligible:

  • Be stringent in the use of hospital transport: Patient Transport Services should be used only for those who qualify (see above for qualifying criteria). Ensure that the patient cannot go home by any other means.

  • Do not book more than one non-medical escort. An escort takes the place of a patient, and will be charged at the full patient-journey cost.

Use the correct procedures and book transport as early as possible:

  • Adhere to transport booking procedures (there is a copy in every ward and department); refer to it and ensure you have all the information required for booking transport.

  • Aim for optimum planning of the discharge of patients. If the patient is eligible, book transport via the hospital information system (HISS) as soon as you know it is required.
    (a) At least 24 hours before the transport is needed.
    (b) Out of area ambulance bookings (if a stretcher, two men, or a wheelchair is required) must be made at least 48 hours before the transport is needed.
    (c) Reduce, where possible, the number of bookings for 'Emergency Transport' (ie on the same day as discharge).
    (d) Short-notice bookings: book the journey as a short-notice booking on the HISS system and then telephone the transport office advising them of it. Only book short-notice transport if the patient is being 'repatriated' to their original hospital and there is a possibility that the bed will be lost if the patient is not moved immediately. The ambulance staff will do their best to transport the patient under these circumstances; however, this is not always possible. If the ambulance staff cannot provide appropriate services for the patient, they will advise the ward. Short-notice bookings should not be booked via the Bed Manager.
    (e) Emergency transport (ie on the same day of discharge): emergency transport is not to be used because staff forgot to book transport before the patient's day of discharge. Only the Bed Manager can book emergency transport (see below).

Inform the transport staff, to book the most-appropriate transport:

  • Think about the type of transport you are booking: for example, if the patient is able to transfer from their wheelchair to a car, do not book a wheelchair ambulance.

  • Assist the ambulance staff by giving them as much information as possible about the patient, which will help them plan the journey without unnecessary delays.

Emergency ('on the day') discharges

All bookings for emergency transport must be made via the Bed Manager.

  • Before booking, ensure that the decision to discharge the patient is final and that medications they need to take home with them are on the ward.

  • Emergency transport will be sanctioned only if there is a shortage of beds across the Trust, not just on the patient's ward.

  • The Bed Manager books all emergency transport for the 'discharge vehicle', which is only available Mon-Fri: 1200–2000. The Bed Managers will book emergency transport in line with the transport procedures held in their office.

Do you need to cancel your hospital transport?

If you do not need the hospital transport that has been arranged for you, please let us know - it could be used for someone else. Contact the hospital transport office: From 0830–1700, Tel: 01223 216 210; From 1700–2000, Tel: 01223 274 476.

 

(4) Alternatives to Patient Transport Services

  • Do you need help with travel costs?
    If you are not eligible for transport, you may be eligible for reimbursement of travel expenses if you are receiving certain benefits. To find out if you are eligible for this assistance, ask your local Social Security Office or telephone Addenbrooke's Outpatient Receptionist: 01223 216 357. We can reimburse car mileage (July 2001: the current rate is 10p/mile) and bus and train fares in full on production of your ticket. NB. we do not reimburse taxi fares.

  • Loan of money to help you use public transport to return home
    You might have been brought to Accident & Emergency by ambulance or by a friend who has now left, and do not have any cash. If you are medically fit to travel home by a means other than hospital transport, we will not arrange your travel. We can, however, loan you enough cash to help you get home. Ask the nursing staff, who will be more than happy to organise this for you.

For further information contact: The Hospital Transport Co-ordinator, Box 153, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QQ; Tel: 01223 216 210; Fax: 01223 414 771.

 
Last updated: 7 July 2005
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