Ambulance Victoria have asked that the following information be diseminated to GP practices:

Non Emergency Patient Transport to VACS and MBS Funded Non Admitted Clinics at Public Health Facilities

Following the DHS issued Hospital Circular 02/2008, Ambulance Victoria (AV) is implementing changes to booking processes, effective 1 September 2008, for all requests relating to attendance at public hospital non admitted patient clinics. These changes will mean that:

• The receiving health service is required to authorise the use of specialised transport for all new and review patients;
• AV is not able to accept requests for transport to public hospital non admitted patient clinics from GPs or nursing homes in the community.

Where AV receives a request for transport for a patient to attend a non admitted patient clinic from a community provider, the requester will be directed to contact the Transport Booking Office at the receiving public hospital to discuss the requirement for authorisation and transport. The booking office should be provided with information in relation to the patient's pension concession details, ambulance subscription or other billing details, and advice as to whether the patient is attending that clinic for the first time (initial visit) or a subsequent review (review visit).

Where the patient does not hold a valid pension, DVA, health care card or subscription with Ambulance Victoria, and the transport does not relate to a TAC or Workcover claim, the patient is financially responsible for the cost of transport to and from the clinic appointment and will be billed accordingly by Ambulance Victoria. These patients should therefore be fully informed of their financial liabilities.

It is our expectation that contact with the receiving public hospital is initiated by the referring GP clinic. It is not appropriate for the GP clinic to refer the patient directly to the Transport Booking office to discuss the need for transport. The receiving public hospital will, in consultation with the requester (GP), determine whether there is a demonstrated medical requirement for ambulance transport on the grounds that:

• Patient requires the use of the specialised equipment contained within the vehicle.
• Patient requires the skill levels and qualifications of staff on either an ambulance vehicle or on a non emergency patient transport vehicle.
• Patient has illness or a disability that makes it impractical to use any other form of transport, for example, disorientation or immobility.

Where the use of specialist transport is not required andlor the patient does not require the skills levels and of staff on an ambulance vehicle, the requester will be advised and should consider the use of community groups, volunteer services, family, taxis and public transport.

These changes in booking processes do not apply for transport of patients to admitted "inpatient" services at public health facilities e.g. admission, day surgery, renal dialysis, chemotherapy, (clarification may be sought from the receiving public health facility).

AV has provided contact details for all relevant public health locations.

Please also see the updated transport booking request form which should be used for non emergency stretcher or clinic transport in the metropolitan area. The form requires the requesting doctor to provide details of the patient acuity, in accordance with the Non Emergency Patient Transport Regulations 2005. Provision of the patient acuity ensures that the patient's clinical needs are matched with staff numbers and qualifications to provide a suitable level of care during transportation.

A copy of the Act, Regulations and Clinical Practice Protocols is available at www.health.vic.gov.au/nept.

Should you require additional information in relation to the provision of non emergency transport by Ambulance Victoria, please do not hesitate to contact our non emergency services division as follows: