Before an ambulance can be booked the patient has to meet certain criteria. This can vary from hospital to hospital
Barking Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust – Queens and King George’s
A. Medical Criteria – Patients must be medically unfit to travel by alternative means:
- Patients whose health, safety and welfare would be compromised by not travelling by ambulance
- Patients who have no alternative means of travelling to and from hospital due to a medical condition and who are unable to use public transport (bus), private hire vehicle (mini cab / Dial a Ride/ taxi) private vehicle (own/family/friends)
- Stretcher Patient
B. Escort Criteria
- The patient is a child under 18
- Patients who have a medical condition that requires them to have one to one supervision while away from home
- Patients who require a nurse/doctor accompaniment
- Visually, physically or mentally impaired patients
- Patients who required medication while away from home and who are unable to self-administer.