Transferring a patient across country by Ambulance

Run_to_da_hills

An elderly woman I know from Dublin suffered a stroke while on a holiday with their daughter in Tralee, She is confined to the Tralee General Hospital in a stable condition, Her husband who is 85yo has moved down to tralee but is finding it very difficult to ajust there and would like her to be moved back to Dublin when she improves. What is the procedure in transferring a patient back to her home town by ambulance? Is she entitled to a transfer back to a Dublin hospital if she is on a state pension or would her husband be seriously out of pocket?

boomer_ie

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

An elderly woman I know from Dublin suffered a stroke while on a holiday with their daughter in Tralee, She is confined to the Tralee General Hospital in a stable condition, Her husband who is 85yo has moved down to tralee but is finding it very difficult to ajust there and would like her to be moved back to Dublin when she improves. What is the procedure in transferring a patient back to her home town by ambulance? Is she entitled to a transfer back to a Dublin hospital if she is on a state pension or would her husband be seriously out of pocket?

Unfortunately unless the HSE or the Patients Insurance Co (VHI/Quinn/Vivas) are willing to pay for the Ambulance a transfer is likely to cost a lot of money. Added to this you will also need to ensure that the recieving hospital has a bed for the patient and will keep it available for the patient.

Going privately I would expect the well known companies to charge in the region of 4 figures... (and thats not counting the decimal point)

timmywex

Yes, talk to the nurses and doctors about the possibility of doing it too, the hse could cover the costs with one of their own crews perhaps.

Elessar

unfortunately its true that one of the private ambulance companies would charge a couple of thousand euro for such a transfer. I suggest you contact one of your local volunteer ambulance organisations, like the order of malta (www.orderofmalta.ie). I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help, and won't charge you an arm and leg either.

I know that my unit in the order was willing to transfer a patient from Dublin to the country for a small fee before the husband of said patient wanted it asap and so decided to pay €2500 to a private firm. All units have fully equipped accident and emergency ambulances and trained volunteers. If u need assistance, pm me, I would be happy to help.

boomer_ie

Elessar wrote: »

unfortunately its true that one of the private ambulance companies would charge a couple of thousand euro for such a transfer. I suggest you contact one of your local volunteer ambulance organisations, like the order of malta (www.orderofmalta.ie). I'm sure they'll be more than willing to help, and won't charge you an arm and leg either.

I know that my unit in the order was willing to transfer a patient from Dublin to the country for a small fee before the husband of said patient wanted it asap and so decided to pay €2500 to a private firm. All units have fully equipped accident and emergency ambulances and trained volunteers. If u need assistance, pm me, I would be happy to help.

It is my understanding that the likes of the Order of Malta because they are charities are not allowed to undertake this kind of commercial work. I would suggest you clarify this with your Officer in Charge and HQ before offering the service on a public forum like this.

The Real B-man

boomer_ie wrote: »

It is my understanding that the likes of the Order of Malta because they are charities are not allowed to undertake this kind of commercial work. I would suggest you clarify this with your Officer in Charge and HQ before offering the service on a public forum like this.

Agreed.

Run_to_da_hills

I am just informed that she is covered for a transfer back to Dublin from her insurance policy however it is up to her assigned doctor to give the go ahead taking her medical condition into consideration
Thanks.