The mobility descriptions below outline each mobility, requirements, what vehicle may arrive in addition to other relevant information.
Sitter 1 (c1) – a 5 door car
Description
Patient walks with assistance from one person, has no specific medical assistance requirements during the journey. The patient can be accommodated with a passenger car and does not require any manual handling equipment.
Mobility of patient
Patient must be able to walk to / from their property and get into a 5 door car comfortably and unaided with minimal support, i.e. an arm for support, assistance with seat belt.
Other information
All drivers, including taxis, should assist patients to the vehicle on collection and destination on arrival; sometimes this may require the use of a hospital chair, due to distance etc. Front Seat only can be requested. Tick relevant box or inform call handler; noting the reason why it’s required in the journey notes or to the call handler. (patients can take self-administered oxygen, but this must be booked to travel with them)
What could arrive
A volunteer car, taxi or any other type of vehicle
Mobility read back
Patient can with minimal assistance manage in a car (or any other type of vehicle)
Sitter 1A (C1A) – an ambulance vehicle / minibus taxi with one staff member (a driver)
Description
Patient walks with assistance from one person, and has no specific medical assistance requirements during the journey. The patient cannot be accommodated with a passenger car, due to needing more space or another medical reason. e.g. just had an hip replacement and can’t sit low down etc.
Mobility of patient
Patient must be able to walk to the vehicle with one person’s assistance, but can’t get into a car. Patient must be able to manage to negotiate up / down 2-3 steps into / off the vehicle with minimal assistance from one person. If a patient can’t manage steps or requires a wheelchair from the front door to the vehicle, then C2 mobility should be booked.
Other information
All drivers, including taxi minibuses drivers, should assist patients to the vehicle on collection and destination on arrival; sometimes this may require the use of a hospital chair, due to distance etc. (patients can take self-administered oxygen, but this must be booked to travel with them)
What could arrive
Minibus taxi, but not a 5 door saloon type car, an ambulance with one member of staff, an ambulance with two members of staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling on an ambulance / taxi minibus with 1 member of staff, and patient must be able to walk to the vehicle with one person’s assistance.
Sitter 2 (C2) – an ambulance vehicle with two members of staff (a driver and an attendant)
Description
Patient requires the assistance of 2 staff members to assist with entering or exiting their property or the vehicle due to their mobility needs, or may require supervision due to their medical condition or need oxygen during the journey that is administered for them.
Mobility of patient
Patient with poor mobility and may require a lot of assistance. A wheelchair / carry chair may be used to get the patient to and onto the vehicle, via steps or vehicle ramp. The patient must be able to transfer into a fixed seat once on the vehicle. The transport device on board may be used to help the patient up or downstairs. The patient may be a C2 mobility based on other health issues, rather than mobility alone.
Other information
To be booked if patient requires oxygen, that’s not self-administered. To be booked if patient needs help with stairs either at the property or onto the vehicle.
What could arrive
An ambulance with two members of staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling on an ambulance with 2 members of staff. The patient requires the assistance of 2 staff members due to mobility needs, medical condition or requirement for oxygen.
Wheelchair 1 (W1) – a wheelchair accessible ambulance with one member of staff (a driver) or a wheelchair accessible taxi
Description
Patient requires transportation travelling in their own manual wheelchair (must be an outdoor wheelchair) and requires 1 member of staff for safe transfer.
Mobility of patient
Patient is unable to transfer onto a fixed seat on the vehicle. One staff member required to assist the patient getting on board the vehicle, and to secure the wheelchair.
Other information
Patient’s property must be clear or ramped to facilitate access. Any additional information regarding the wheelchair needs to be advised at the point of booking, e.g. wide wheelchair etc. The wheelchair must have suitable clamping points, footrests and be in a good serviceable condition. All drivers, including taxis, should assist patients to the relevant department.
What could arrive
A wheelchair accessible taxi or any other type of ambulance vehicle with 1 or 2 members of staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling in their own manual wheelchair with 1 member of staff, and the patient’s property must be clear or ramped to facilitate access.
Wheelchair 2 (W2) – a wheelchair accessible ambulance with two members of staff (a driver and an attendant)
Description
Patient requires transportation travelling in their own manual wheelchair (must be an outdoor wheelchair) and requires 2 members of staff for safe transfer.
Mobility of patient
Patient is unable to transfer into a fixed seat on the vehicle. Two members of staff required to assist patient to and from their property and on board or off the vehicle, this may be due to patient’s weight or other health issues, poor access or egress issues at the property, i.e. not clear or ramped.
Other information
To be booked if access / egress is not clear or ramped at the property. To be booked if patient requires oxygen, that is not self-administered. Any additional information regarding the wheelchair needs to be advised at the point of booking, i.e. wide wheelchair etc. The wheelchair must have suitable clamping points, footrests and be in a good serviceable condition. All drivers should escort patients to the relevant department.
What could arrive
An ambulance with 2 members of staff. (A driver and attendant)
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling in their own Manual Wheelchair with 2 members of staff.
Electric Wheelchair 1 (EW1) – a wheelchair accessible ambulance with one member of staff (a driver) or a wheelchair accessible taxi
Description
Patient is travelling in their own electric wheelchair (must be an outdoor wheelchair) and requires 1 member of staff for safe transfer.
Mobility of patient
Patient is unable to transfer into a fixed seat on the vehicle. One staff member required to assist patient getting on board or off the vehicle, and to secure the wheelchair.
Other information
Patient’s property must be clear or ramped to facilitate access. Any additional information regarding the wheelchair needs to be advised at the point of booking, i.e. wide wheelchair etc. The wheelchair must have suitable clamping points, and be in a good serviceable condition. All drivers, including taxis, should escort patients to the relevant department
What could arrive
A taxi suitable for electric wheelchair access, or any other type of ambulance vehicle with 1 or 2 staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling in their own electric wheelchair with 1 member of staff, and the patient’s property must be clear or ramped to facilitate access.
Electric Wheelchair 2 (EW2) – a wheelchair accessible ambulance with two members of staff (a driver and an attendant)
Description
Patient is travelling in their own electric wheelchair (must be an outdoor wheelchair) and requires 2 members of staff for safe transfer.
Mobility of patient
Patient is unable to transfer onto a fixed seat on the vehicle. Two members of staff required to assist patient to and from their property and on or off the vehicle, this may be due to patient’s weight or other health issues, poor access or egress issues at the property, i.e. not clear or ramped.
Other information
To be booked if access / egress is not clear or ramped at the property. To be booked if patient requires oxygen, that is not self-administered. Any additional information regarding the wheelchair needs to be advised at the point of booking, e.g. wide wheelchair etc. The wheelchair must have suitable clamping points. All drivers should escort patients to the relevant department.
What could arrive
An ambulance with 2 members of staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be travelling in their own electric wheelchair with 2 members of staff.
Stretcher (STR) – an ambulance vehicle with stretcher, with two members of staff (a driver and an attendant)
Description
Patient requires transportation whilst travelling on a stretcher
Mobility of patient
Patient needs to lie down during transportation. Two members of staff required to assist patient getting on board the vehicle.
Other information
If the property has steps and no clear or ramped access / egress to wheel the stretcher in or out of, the patient must be able to sit a carry chair for a short period of time to gain access to or from the property, before being transferred onto a stretcher bed. All drivers should escort patients to the relevant department, and transfer the patient onto a hospital trolley or hospital bed where appropriate.
What could arrive
A stretcher ambulance with 2 members of staff.
Mobility read back
Patient will be sent a stretcher vehicle
Escorts can be requested to travel with any category of patient above, but there must be a clinical need to travel with the patient, e.g. patient has dementia etc.