What is a Private Ambulance? A Guide To Private Ambulances

What Is A Private Ambulance?

If you or a loved one needs help travelling safely, a private ambulance service provides an alternative to standard transport. Private ambulances can be booked for hospital appointments, hospital discharges, care home admissions and long-distance journeys.

They can also support patients who need a wheelchair, stretcher or specialist equipment during their journey. At EMA Patient Transport, we provide private patient transport for individuals, families, hospitals, care homes and healthcare professionals.

In this guide, we explain what a private ambulance is, how it works and when you might need one.

EMA private Ambulance Service, ambulance

So What Is a Private Ambulance?

A private ambulance is a private patient transport vehicle operated by an independent ambulance provider. Unlike an emergency ambulance, a private ambulance is normally booked in advance for a planned journey.

It can be used when a patient needs more support than a standard taxi or private vehicle can provide.

This may include patients who:

Have limited mobility
Use a wheelchair
Need to travel on a stretcher
Are unable to walk
Need help getting in or out of their home
Require oxygen or observation during transport
Need specialist equipment for their journey
Are travelling a long distance
Need additional support due to their individual circumstances
Have Mental Health Issues
Are Overweight and Immobile

Private ambulance transport can therefore provide a safe and comfortable way to travel for patients.

What Can a Private Ambulance Be Used For?

There are many reasons why someone may need a private ambulance.

At EMA Patient Transport, journeys can include:

Hospital appointments
Hospital discharges
Hospital-to-hospital transfers
Care and nursing home admissions
Transfers between care homes
Long-distance patient transport
Wheelchair transport
Stretcher transport
Bariatric patient transport
Palliative and end-of-life transport
Secure mental health transport
Medical repatriation
Court of Protection transport

Private ambulance transport can also help patients attend important personal occasions. This could include a wedding, funeral, family gathering or a special day out.

For some people, having the right vehicle, equipment and trained crew can make a journey possible that would otherwise be extremely difficult.

How Does A Private Ambulance Service Work?

Arranging private ambulance transport with EMA starts with understanding the patient’s needs.

Our team will discuss the journey with you before the booking is confirmed.

This may include:

Where the patient is travelling from and to
Their current mobility
Whether they can walk
Whether a wheelchair or stretcher is required
Access to the property
Stairs or other access difficulties
Any relevant medical requirements
The distance of the journey
The level of support required
Appointment or admission times

This information helps us plan the journey and select the appropriate private ambulance, equipment and crew.

EMA Team working together to transport a private ambulance patient

Why Choose a Private Ambulance?

Transport Planned Around the Patient

Every patient is different. A private ambulance journey can be planned around the individual’s mobility, circumstances and destination. This is particularly useful for patients who may find travelling stressful, uncomfortable or physically difficult.

A Pre-Arranged Journey

Private ambulance transport can and is normally booked for a planned date and time. This can make it easier to coordinate hospital appointments, care home admissions and other important journeys.

Door-to-Door Support

Patient transport involves much more than simply driving from one location to another. Depending on the patient’s needs, our crews help with collection, mobility, boarding the ambulance and arrival at the destination.

Where appropriate or needed, specialist equipment can also be used to help overcome difficult access.

Wheelchair and Stretcher Transport

EMA ambulances also regularly support patients travelling by wheelchair or stretcher, depending on their individual requirements. This can make longer journeys and transfers more comfortable and manageable.

Long-Distance Private Ambulance Transport

A private ambulance can also be used for journeys over much greater distances. EMA regularly provides long-distance private ambulance transport between homes, hospitals, care homes and other healthcare settings.

EMA also offer Medical Repatriation Services within and outside of the UK. Careful planning is particularly important on longer journeys to maintain patient comfort throughout the transfer.

What Equipment Is Available in an EMA Private Ambulance?

The equipment required will depend on the individual patient and type of journey.

EMA has access to a range of private patient transport and mobility equipment, including:

Wheelchairs
Stretchers
Oxygen
Observation equipment
First aid equipment
Carry chairs
Stair climbers
Specialist mobility equipment

Our team will discuss the patient’s requirements before the journey so that suitable equipment can be prepared if needed.

Watch this video to take a look inside one of EMA’s private ambulances

EMA’s Private ambulances are equipped with advanced medical equipment, such as oxygen supply systems, monitoring equipment, wheelchairs and stretcher beds.

This ensures that patients receive appropriate medical support during transit, regardless of their specific healthcare needs.

Private Ambulance With access ramp from EMA Patient Transport — Private Ambulance with access ramp from EMA Patient Transport

Private Ambulance Transport for Hospital Appointments

Private ambulance transport can be arranged for planned hospital and clinic appointments.

This can be particularly helpful when the patient:

Cannot travel by car
Uses a wheelchair
Needs a stretcher
Has limited mobility
Requires help accessing their property
Needs additional support during the journey

A wait-and-return service is also available. This means transport can be arranged to take the patient to their appointment and return them home afterwards.

Hospital Discharge Transport

Leaving hospital is not always as simple as getting into a family car or taxi. Some patients need additional mobility support or specialist transport before they can safely return home.

A private ambulance can be arranged for a planned hospital discharge. Transport can also be provided when a patient is being discharged directly to a care or nursing home.

Specialist Private Ambulance Services

Some journeys require additional planning, equipment or appropriately trained staff.

Alongside general private patient transport, EMA provides a range of specialist services, including:

Our team can discuss the circumstances of the journey and help identify the most appropriate transport service.

Who Can Book a Private Ambulance?

You do not need to be a hospital or healthcare professional to arrange private patient transport.

EMA services can be booked by:

Patients
Family members
Friends
Care and nursing homes
Hospitals
Healthcare professionals
Local authorities
Case managers and other organisations

If you are unsure what type of private ambulance transport is required, you can speak to our team first.

Where Does EMA Patient Transport Operate?

EMA Patient Transport provides private ambulance services across the South of the UK, with bases in Poole, Dorset and Guildford, Surrey.

Our teams regularly support patients throughout Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey, London, Somerset, Devon, Sussex, Kent and Berkshire.

We also provide long-distance private ambulance transport across the UK, depending on the individual journey.

Why Choose EMA Patient Transport?

Choosing patient transport is an important decision.

Patients and families need to know that the person travelling will be treated with dignity, patience and respect.

At EMA Patient Transport, our focus is on providing a safe, professional and compassionate service from the initial enquiry through to the end of the journey.

Our services include:

Experienced patient transport crews
Specialist vehicles
Wheelchair and stretcher transport
Specialist mobility equipment
Long-distance transport
Care home admissions and transfers
Hospital appointments and discharges
Complex and specialist patient transport
Transport planned around individual needs

Most importantly, every patient is treated as an individual.

EMA Patient Transport’s Role

EMA Private ambulances play a vital role in the South Coast healthcare ecosystem by offering specialised non-emergency medical transportation services to patients. Our prompt response, professional care, and well-equipped vehicles make them a valuable resource for private patients, medical facilities, care and nursing homes.

This includes our fleet of secure mental health ambulances that are available for mental health transfers to and from hospitals or custody suites, we have all eventualities covered. Whether it’s a routine medical appointment or a complex patient transfer, EMA private ambulances provide a reliable and efficient solution for secure and safe mental health transportation.

Reviews and Recommendations

Remember, when considering private ambulance services, it is essential to choose a reputable and licensed provider with a track record of delivering exceptional patient care like EMA Patient Transport. Looking at reviews of a company is always a good yardstick to measure them by before booking.

By prioritising patient comfort, safety, and timely transportation, EMA’s Private Ambulance services contribute significantly to the overall well-being of individuals in need of private medical transportation services.

How Do I Book a Private Ambulance?

If you need to arrange private ambulance transport, the first step is to speak to our team.

You can do that by filling out a form below or giving our team a call.

Tell us about the patient’s circumstances, mobility, collection location, destination and any additional support they may need.

We can then discuss the journey and the most appropriate transport options with you.

Call us today on 0800 634 1478, fill out an enquiry form or email and we will contact you to discuss how we can help you.