Patient Transport (VIC)

Red Cross Patient Transport Victoria is a volunteer based service partially funded by State government to support individuals who are isolated and require transport to get to and from essential medical appointments.

The service is free of charge, however, a small patient donation would be most appreciated in an effort to support us to recover the significant increases in petrol prices and car maintenance costs in an effort to continue providing the exceptional standard of service you have come to expect from our Red Cross Patient Transport volunteer team.

No, Red Cross provides transport for people who have no other alternative transport arrangements to attend essential medical appointments.

Yes. Clients accessing the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) are able to access the Patient Transport Service, provided they satisfy the Red Cross eligibility criteria and VPTAS eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for VPTAS assistance, patients must be a Victorian resident living in a rural region and need to travel more than 100km one way or travel more than 500km for a minimum of 5 consecutive weeks.

Depending on a client’s personal situation, they may use a combination of VPTAS and Red Cross assistance.

Red Cross can claim VPTAS on behalf of the client and this can be used to cover the cost of transport. Please ask our friendly service convenors to discuss this assistance further with you.

All clients are required by law to wear a seatbelt while travelling in a vehicle. Exemptions may apply to individuals with medical conditions or physical disabilities unless they have been certified by a registered medical practitioner that they are approved to travel without a seatbelt e.g. mobility impaired, pregnant women and obese individuals.

Red Cross vehicles do not have the capacity or the hoisting facility to transport motorised wheelchairs.

For clients who use a portable wheelchair, Red Cross may be able to assist in one of two ways:

1) Wheelchair users can only be transported if they are accompanied by a carer or family member who assumes responsibility for loading and unloading the wheelchair into and out of the Red Cross vehicle, and assuming that there is capacity in the vehicle to fit the wheelchair.

2) If the client is able to take two to three steps unassisted from a wheelchair and transfer themselves to and from the vehicle, the client may be transported to their appointment leaving their wheelchair at home and using a hospital wheelchair upon arrival.

Volunteer drivers are not trained in manual handling procedures including the loading and unloading of wheelchairs.

Permission may be granted to carry ultra-light weight wheelchairs which are exempt from manual handling provisions.

No. Hospitals are responsible to provide transport when a hospital decision is made to transfer a patient to another hospital.

No. Red Cross Patient Transport service aims to assist people who are isolated and living independently.

Red Cross does not transport residents living in aged care facilities, nursing homes or supported residential services such as aged care hostels with staff support services attached to the facility. Support services include providing or arranging medical care, activities and transport.

If the only staff service provided is to respond to an emergency buzzer and/or attend to basic maintenance issues, then this is not considered to be a support service.