If you require transport to an Emergency Department you must phone Ambulance Victoria via 000
Under current circumstances around COVID-19 this office may not be manned. Services to Western Health may have been reduced during this time.
Outpatient or Pre Admission Clinics
maybe heavily impacted or deferred and Care Facilities, patients or carers will be kept informed.
The below requests to transfer are to be booked through
Ambulance Victoria and not through Western Health
Transport Services manage inquiries from persons who may require transport assistance in attending a medical appointment or treatment at Western Health. We may be able to assist by arranging Non-Emergency Patient Transport, Red Cross Volunteer Driver Services (Metro and Regional), Department Veteran Affairs or direct you to other community transport services where necessary. If it is an emergency please call an ambulance on 000.
Non-Emergency Patient Transport services may be available if you are clinically unable to travel to or from your appointment using any other method of transport. You must meet certain medical criteria to be able to use our transport services. This may be because of:
Government funding is used to support Non-Emergency Patient Transport for people who hold a current -
Aged Pension card
Disability Pension card
Widow Pension card
Health Care card
We would advise you to have a current Ambulance Victoria Membership if you do not have one of the above cards.
At the time of your enquiry you may be advised that we require for a carer/ escort attend with you to your appointment as our nursing staff are unable to supervise patients in waiting areas.
Note: Aged Care Facilities require an escort
at each appointment
Non-Emergency Patient Transport or Volunteer Services should not be seen as an alternative to you using:
Taxi
Family member
Private vehicle
Public Transport
You may on occasion be required to change your appointment date to a day when you can arrange your own transport. Western Health is not financially responsible to fund alternative transport.
We understand that parking near a hospital can be difficult however we ask that you do not use our transport services to avoid the difficulty or cost of parking in the first instance.
For Dialysis, Chemotherapy or Radiation patients please discuss your transport query with your treating medical team or nurse .
Inquiries
GENERAL PUBLIC
Minimum 5 business days prior to the appointment
- Transport Coordinator
Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.00pm
phone: 8345 1157 or
main switchboard 8345 6666
CARE FACILITIES OR GP’s
The purpose of your patient’s attendance at Western Health will determine who will process your booking as per below -
Western Health are responsible for
Specialist or Pre Admission Clinic appointments ONLY by
completing the online transport request form (Please open the form in Adobe Reader) authorised by GP or Div1
If you are experiencing difficulties in sending via adobe reader please email completed document to
[email protected] for processing
(All bookings received are audited for both transport and clinical appropriateness. You may receive a call from us to query details or receive an email reply to confirm booking processed) Minimum 5 business days prior to the appointment
-
Ambulance Victoria are responsible for
Admissions - Day or Multi Day Stay procedures, Treatment for Chemotherapy or Radiation treatment, Day Urology and
Diagnostic-Radiology or Pathology, Cardiac Testing or Cath Lab by
completing this form authorised by GP or Div1
Please utilise the information detailed on Community Booking
help sheet to assist in directing your transport request.
Rural and Regional patients
Transport assistance
If you are required to attend a hospital more than 100 km from where you are living for medical treatment, you and the person who goes to the appointment with you may be eligible for the government Patient Transport Assistance Scheme. This provides a small subsidy to assist with the costs of travel and accommodation at these times. For more information follow the below link
Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS): Rural Health - Department of Health, Victoria, Australia
TAC & Work Cover Patients
TAC (Transport Accident Commission's Regulations)
If your attendance or admission to Western Health is related to a Transport Accident you are required to lodge a claim with the TAC. Whilst TAC aims to deliver your entitlements as quickly and efficiently as possible, this is reliant on you providing all relevant information quickly, to assist with processing your claim in a timely manner. Failure to lodge a TAC claim may result in these accounts involving any medical costs being forwarded to you for payment.
www.tac.vic.gov.au
Workcover
If your attendance or admission to Western Health is related to a workplace accident or injury, you are required to ensure that a claim is made through Workcover (VWA) by your employer. If you have not notified your employer within 30days of becoming aware of the injury, you may not be entitled to compensation. You are required to provide Western Health with valid employer details in order for all associated accounts to be forwarded for payment. In the event that the accounts are not settled by your employer, associated accounts will be forwarded to you for follow up or payment.
www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
