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What is a private ambulance? What are patient transport services?

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Essentially a private ambulance is similar to a taxi. But instead of a driver you have medically trained personnel, and instead of a normal cab you have a medically equipped vehicle. Booking a patient transport service will allow you to travel wherever you may need, while ensuring you are in the safe hands of a medic or medical crew in a vehicle that is equipped for you medical needs. 

A private ambulance will have medically trained personnel on board during a patient transport, and the level of medical cover may be altered depending on your needs. As a general standard, most patient transport services would provide two medically trained staff, one to act as the driver and one to stay in the back of the ambulance with the patient. However, you may decide you require a different level of care. Perhaps you do not need two medics and would instead opt for only one, or maybe you would choose to have a paramedic or medical technician on board to deal with higher risk situations. The level of medical crew could vary depending on your medical needs, but in any case would ensure any medical needs you have are catered for. 

The crew will have all the medical equipment necessary to provide proper care. The medical equipment provided and used would vary between providers and would also depend on patient requirements. But a private ambulance may carry the likes of basic life support equipment, defibrillators, oxygen, suction units, pat slides, carry chairs, and more. Another key element of patient transfers is cleaning and disinfecting, the medical crew will prioritise the sanitisation of the vehicle and equipment. This kind of focus on cleanliness aims to reduce any risk of contamination or infection, and may be an important concern if you are an individual at a higher risk of contracting diseases. 

Having this level of equipment and care is not the only benefit on choosing a private ambulance as the vehicle for your travel, it will also allow you to choose to remain in a safely secured wheelchair or even lie down in a stretcher for the duration of the journey.  For many people sitting in a car may not be comfortable or perhaps not even be possible. Having the option to lay down while in the vehicle, especially for longer journeys, can be really beneficial and significantly more tolerable for many people. The medical crew can also assist with moving and transferring which can be vital if you are dealing with mobility difficulties. Having a crew that can assist you in getting to and from the transport vehicle and employ appropriate transferring equipment that can help those struggling with mobilising to get into a vehicle and travel.    

All of these elements might be worthwhile to consider when thinking about whether a private ambulance would be a useful service for you to use. There are many benefits in choosing to travel with a patient transfer service for anyone who needs or wants medical care while traveling. 

Do you need an ambulance transfer? Are you an ambulance provider?