Patient Transfer Service
Ralmed's patient transfer service moves patients between hospitals, clinics, care homes and home, with the crew level set by the patient's needs.
At a glance
- Hospital to hospital, and hospital to home
- Crews from basic life support to a doctor on board
- Booked ahead or arranged on the day
- Road transfers, planned around the patient
- Air ambulance for longer journeys
The service
What is a patient transfer service?
A patient transfer service moves a patient who needs medical care during the journey, from one place of care to another.
Unlike an emergency call, a transfer is usually planned. The sending team knows the patient, the receiving team is ready, and the crew is chosen to suit what the patient needs on the road.
Ralmed runs its patient transfer service from 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton. Some people call this a medical transport service; the idea is the same.
Types of transfer
Which transfers do we arrange?
Our patient transfer service covers four main kinds of journey. Each one starts with a call to our control room.
Between hospitals
Moving a patient to another hospital for specialist care, a scan or a bed in a different unit.
Home from hospital
A discharge for a patient who cannot sit in a car or needs care on the way home.
To a care facility
A move to a step-down, frail care or rehabilitation facility after a hospital stay.
To treatment and back
A trip to a scan, a procedure or a specialist, with the crew waiting to bring the patient back.
Crew levels
Which crew does a patient transfer need?
The crew level depends on the patient, not on the distance. The sending team's notes help us choose.
| The patient | Crew level | What the crew can do |
|---|---|---|
| Stable, going home or to a care facility | Basic life support | Monitoring, comfort care and first aid on the way |
| On a drip, or needing closer monitoring | Intermediate life support | A wider range of drugs and airway skills |
| Critically ill or recently operated on | Advanced life support | Advanced airway care, cardiac drugs and close monitoring |
| Needing a doctor's care on the journey | Doctor on board | A doctor travels with the crew for the whole transfer |
| Travelling a long way, or across a border | Air ambulance | A medical flight, with a road crew at each end |
How it works
How do you book a transfer?
01
Call or WhatsApp
Give the patient's name, the pick-up, the destination and the time you need.
02
We check the clinical picture
We speak to the sending team about the patient, so the crew level is right.
03
Collection at the bedside
The crew collects the patient, the notes and the medication at the agreed time.
04
Handover on arrival
The crew hands the patient and the notes over to the receiving team.
Planning a discharge or a move between hospitals? Call 0861 725 633.
Why hospitals and families book transfers with Ralmed
The crew matches the patient. From basic life support to a doctor on board, set by the patient's needs.
A proper handover. The notes travel with the patient, and the crew briefs the receiving team.
One number for every booking. The same control room plans transfers, day or night.
Road or air. Longer journeys can go by air ambulance, with road crews at each end.
Cost
What does a patient transfer service cost?
The price of a patient transfer service depends on the crew, the distance and how long the crew needs to wait.
- The crew level the patient needs
- The distance between pick-up and destination
- Waiting time, for example on a return trip from treatment
- Any treatment or medicines given on the way
- Whether your medical aid has authorised the transfer
Many medical aid schemes need to authorise a planned transfer before it happens.
Your options
Patient transfer service or emergency ambulance?
Both use ambulances and trained crews. They differ in how they are arranged and how much time there is to plan.
| Question | Patient transfer | Emergency ambulance |
|---|---|---|
| When it is used | Moving a patient between places of care | Sudden illness or injury at the scene |
| How it is arranged | Booked ahead, or on the day by the ward | A call to 0861 725 633 or 10177 |
| Information for the crew | Notes and a handover from the sending team | What the caller can tell us |
| Medical aid | Often needs authorisation first | Usually covered as an emergency |
If a patient becomes unwell at home and needs hospital care now, that is an emergency. Call for an ambulance rather than booking a transfer. The Council for Medical Schemes explains how scheme benefits work.
Be prepared
What to have ready for the crew
A few papers make our patient transfer service smoother at both ends.
- The discharge letter or referral from the sending doctor.
- A list of medicines, with the times of the last and next doses.
- Medical aid details and any authorisation number for the transfer.
- The patient's ID, and the name of a family contact.
- The receiving ward or doctor, with a phone number for the handover.
Our patient transfer service can also collect a patient's belongings, such as a wheelchair or walking frame, if you tell us when you book.
Questions
Questions about our patient transfer service
How do I book a patient transfer?
Call 0861 725 633 or send a WhatsApp to +27 10 226 9725. Give the patient's name, where they are, where they are going and when. We speak to the sending team about the patient's needs, confirm the crew level and agree a collection time with you.
Can you move a patient between two hospitals?
Yes. Moves between hospitals are a large part of our patient transfer service, for example to a specialist unit or a bed in another hospital. The crew collects the patient and the notes at the bedside and hands everything over to the receiving team on arrival.
Can a patient be taken home from hospital by ambulance?
Yes. We take patients home when they cannot travel safely by car, for example if they need to lie flat or need monitoring on the way. Tell us about stairs, lifts or narrow entrances at home, so the crew brings the right equipment for the door.
How far ahead should I book?
Book our patient transfer service as soon as you know the date, especially for a discharge or a trip to treatment. Transfers arranged on the day are possible too, but the earlier we hear from you, the more easily we can match the crew and the time to the patient's needs.
Will medical aid pay for the transfer?
It depends on your scheme and plan. Many schemes cover transfers that are medically necessary, but often only if they authorise them first. Ask the hospital or your scheme for an authorisation number before the transfer, and we will give you the paperwork the scheme needs afterwards.
Can a family member travel with the patient?
Usually one adult can travel with the patient, space and safety allowing. Tell us when you book, because the crew needs room to work, and some patients need the space around them. For children, we always try to make room for a parent or guardian.
How far can you transfer a patient?
Road transfers are planned around the patient and the distance involved. For longer journeys, including flights into and out of South Africa, we arrange an air ambulance with a road crew at each end. Call us with the details and we will talk you through the options for the patient.
Can the crew wait while the patient has treatment?
Yes, for trips to a scan, a procedure or a specialist appointment. Tell us how long the appointment is likely to take when you book. The crew can wait and bring the patient back, and the waiting time is included in the cost of the transfer.
Who decides which crew the patient needs?
We decide together with the sending team. The patient's doctor or nurse tells us about their condition, medicines and equipment, and our control room chooses the crew level to match. If anything changes before the transfer, the sending team should call us so we can adjust the crew.
Is a patient transfer the same as calling an ambulance?
Not quite. A transfer moves a patient between places of care and is usually planned, with a handover from the sending team. An emergency call is for sudden illness or injury. If someone becomes seriously unwell at home, call 0861 725 633 or 10177 straight away.
Related services
More from Ralmed's ambulance services
For emergencies, use our ambulance number or read about our private ambulance service. Patients flying into South Africa can use our international patient service, and every area we cover is on Areas We Cover.
Book a patient transfer with Ralmed
Tell us about the patient, the pick-up and the destination, and we will match the crew and the time to what they need. Call 0861 725 633 to book our patient transfer service.