South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust logo

Welcome to SWASFT

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) provides 999 services throughout the South West region. The areas we cover include Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bristol, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

As part of its remit the Trust facilitates requests from healthcare professionals for both emergency and urgent ambulance transport.

There are a number of ways to transport your patient to hospital and a SWASFT ambulance is not always the appropriate way.

Please familiarise yourself with all the methods of transport available for your patient which are detailed below and select the appropriate one.

SELF

Drive Self

Patient makes their own way to hospital

LIFT

Lift from friend

Patient makes their own way to hospital

TAXI

Taxi (Self Paid)

Patient pays for a taxi or uses public transport

LOCAL NON EMERGENCY PATIENT TRANSPORT SERVICES (PTS)

Same day and planned appointments

When your patient can wait over 4 hours and does not clinically need paramedic level care en-route to hospital. Locally commissioned eligibility criteria applies.

Telephone numbers not for public use.

03003 690096* or 03003 690097*

SWASFT Ambulance

Urgent within 1-4 hours

When your patient's clinical condition requires an ambulance for an urgent hospital admission.

*Telephone numbers not for public use.

999

SWASFT Emergency ambulance

Life-threatening conditions

e.g. Cardiac arrest, stroke, severe bleeding, seizure, short of breath.

If a SWAST ambulance is the best means of transport for your patient please refer to the full guide.

This guide provides guidance for healthcare professionals and explains when it is appropriate to request ambulance transport, and what information will need to be captured when making a request.

Please note that when calling an urgent ambulance, it is important that you call the appropriate telephone number that manages ambulance requests for your area/region.

South Western Ambulance Charity logo

South Western Ambulance Charity

The South Western Ambulance Charity, founded in 1995, uses gifted monies to benefit those in our communities who use our service and to improve the welfare of the staff and volunteers of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. 

Our charitable support covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire including Bristol and Swindon.

If you would like to show your appreciation for the care that you or your loved one has received from us in the form of a charitable donation please visit our online giving website: Donate to South Western Ambulance Charity | Give as you Live Donate