Private ambulance

lr1277

Here are some thoughts, none of which maybe helpful.

I booked private ambulances to transport my dad to/from a private hospitals. Some didn't have availability so needed to ring around. No emergency transport, all had to be planned. But then I wasn't looking for emergency transport.If we needed emergency transport we called the NHS.

My dad stayed in the private Wellington Hospital in London for some time. (It was expensive, even compared to other private hospitals). However they do have an urgent care centre for walk-ins. I don't know if they would accept an admission by an ambulance. The Wellington is in a group of 3 private hospitals that each have an urgent care centre. If you go down this route, I imagine you won't get back into the NHS system for that particular fall/condition/admission, unless something went horribly wrong which the private hospital can't treat. Also never used the service. I saw the entrance door whilst waiting in reception before going up to see my dad. Also checked the webite and they list the service. Btw in private care the daily expenses are based on the complexity of the condition being treated.

When at home, my dad would sometimes fall out of bed. We would call the NHS ambulance who would check him out then put him back to bed. Most times, they arrrived pretty quickly. There was one time, I think where they took some time. My mum made dad comfortable on the floor until the ambulance came.

The local authority/social services/county council provided a hospital style single electric bed. This could be raised and lowered. They also provided crash mats. So in the evening, mum would lower the bed to its lowest point and place the crash mats around the bed. We got this as part of a care package provided after a stay in an NHS hospital.

The hospital style bed had side guards. We were told not to use them, in case my dad's arms got entangled in them. Ok in a hospital where there is somebody in earshot 24hrs, but not at home.

In receiving the electric hospital style bed, we had to move the bed already there and put it into storage. Another expense. In face the cost of storage over say 8 months was more than the cost of a new regular bed.

I don't know if any of the above was helpful, but thought I would give you my experience of the lay of the land as I found it.

EnPointe

Albermarle said:

EnPointe said:

Albermarle said:

Also I could imagine that a private ambulance might keep finding themselves pushed down the queue outside A & E. 

what gives you that impression ?  

Two reasons really , but I am only speculating.

Firstly the person in the private ambulance will probably have got to A&E quicker than a similar patient in a NHS one( assuming it is not a critical emergency),so whoever controls the queue may feel they have jumped it and hold them back.
Secondly there may be some general animosity from NHS staff, including ambulance staff to private outsiders.

 thanks for confirming you have little clue or idea what you are talking about. 

your suggestions are  frankly rubbish and deeply  unethical 

 there is one  queue in the Emergency Department  and that is based on clinical acuity 

MouldyOldDough

Briskly said:

Not sure if this is the right place to post so please forgive. I wondered if anyone had any experience of private ambulances and what they cost? I ask because my 95 year old Mum had a fall in her home and it took 8 hrs for an NHS ambulance to take her to A&E, with her on the floor. Sadly this seems common. I  Would pay for a private ambulance with trained crew to arrive  quickly if this happens again but don't know if this is possible? Grateful for any help. 

According to Google :  The cost of booking a private ambulance service varies significantly. Shorter trips in densely populated central and eastern England were quoted as costing between £300 and £400, whereas bookings in rural areas or across longer distances can cost more than £1,000.

According to Yahoo - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/private-ambulance-charging-99-opens-113432509.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABQ6G-ULJSLnauZuu663Eo_GTNi9jHOihhaTHytEhB3C2Ld7AjVL5_RAZtQkNT6KTwNpaCmyEGDYxS7EX3MYEkOGNho91pXEK_0K_rhsXWpHJ6q4gWLXzSomZDxuBUYv_Xs-UuTWEAQVXR_7lE-T8e5SHsrBkfpdQbP3bxBl9Ccd from £99 if you live in St Albans / Hertfordshire