South Western Ambulance Service Logo
Ambulance light bar
Blue Lights

Keyboard Shortcuts
You can access the above links also by pressing ALT and the shortcut key simultaneously, releasing then pressing enter or click with the mouse. Shortcut keys are indicated in brackets.

Large Text Size
Default Text Size

Translate
Click here for information regarding translation services.
   

Clinical Quality and Patient Safety

Information for GPs and Clinicians

Discharge from Hospital

Hospital staff should ensure that all necessary arrangements have been made for a patient’s return home. The following points should be considered:

  • Has the patient made arrangements to get home? Can they?
  • Is the attendance of other agencies such as health visitors or social services needed?
  • Access to the home address or an alternative address for the patient must be organised
  • Patients should be ready for collection at the agreed time
  • All drugs, door keys, personal effects, letters or notes should be with the patient
  • Long stay patients should be advised that arrangements to convey larger personal items (eg televisions and radios, wheelchairs and walking frames), should be made separately
    Please note there is very limited space for personal effects on PTS ambulances
  • Did the hospital make discharge arrangements on admission? If not, how can this be done in future?

Return of Patients after Treatment

In order to cope with a high demand for out-patient journeys and consequent pressure on the PTS, the Trust relies on the co-operation of out-patient departments to manage their throughputs and ensure the prompt return of patients after treatment. There is no facility for delayed patients to be conveyed after normal operating hours and in that situation alternative arrangements should be made.

Nursing Homes

All South Western Ambulance Service PTS journeys from a patient’s home address to a nursing home will only be accepted on the basis of clinical need as assessed by the patient’s GP. If authorised by a GP, these journeys may be classed as ‘humanitarian’ and will normally be covered by the accident and emergency contract. Non-emergency journeys from a nursing home to anywhere else can only be accepted with authorisation from a chargeable body. Your local PTS control will be happy to advise you about these types of journey.

Lifting Policy

South Western Ambulance Service has a minimal lifting policy for registered care homes. This means that ambulance personnel will not lift or manually handle patients who need no other clinical assistance as a result of a fall whilst in a registered care home. In such circumstances, manual handling responsibilities rest with the care home.

<< Requesting Patient Transport Services

  << Back
Staff Portal | Site Map | Accessibility | Your Personal Information | Freedom of Information

Trust Headquarters, Unit 3 Abbey Court, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, EX2 7HY, Tel: 01392 261500, Fax: 01392 261510, Email: publicrelations@swast.nhs.uk

Copyright © 2006 South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust