Stretcher Transport

Metropolitan Ambulance Service provides non-emergency stretcher transport 24 hours a day, 365 days each year.

Since 1993 we have contracted out this service and from July 1, 2002 following a competitive tender process, there are three providers who undertake this service for MAS.

We currently utilise the services of the following three non-emergency transport contractors:

• Medical Transport Services
• National Patient Transport
• Paramedic Services Victoria

These providers operate under stringent clinical guidelines overseen by the MAS Medical Standards Committee and in accordance with the NEPT Regulations.

The vehicles used for non-emergency stretcher transport have been specially developed for this type of transfer.

Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority, (ESTA) on our behalf, performs the call taking and dispatch of these resources. The selection of the resource types will be determined by our communications procedures and policies in accordance with NEPT regulations from the information provided by the requester.

Typical examples of the type of non-emergency stretcher work undertaken are:

• admissions to hospital from home
• discharges from hospital to home
• inter-hospital transports
• transports between hospitals and diagnostic facilities
• transports to and from nursing homes
• transports to and from the Air Ambulance facility at Essendon Airport
• non-urgent NETS cases
• transport of non-urgent cases to and from Accident and Emergency Departments
• transports to and from domestic and international airports within the Metropolitan area.