Find out about ambulance transfers, who they’re for, and the other ways we can help you get to appointments.
When high-need patients move from one medical centre to another, and must be monitored or require special equipment, they are taken by ambulance. This means that our highly trained ambulance staff can watch over them, keeping them safe and as comfortable as possible during the journey.
Health Shuttles
Waka Ora Health Shuttle is a koha (donation) based community service, delivered by our trained volunteers, that transports people to health and wellbeing related appointments (GP visits, dentist or specialist appointments) and then brings them home again.
Transport by Waka Ora shuttle is for people who have limited transport but don’t need an ambulance as they are mobile and able to travel seated.
Hospital transfers
For hospital-to-hospital transfers, the hospital staff will make the booking. In these cases, the cost of the ambulance transfer may be covered by the hospital, but if this is not the case, you will be advised of and responsible for the cost.
Patient transfer ambulances can be booked for non-emergency private transfers where the patient requires stretcher transport, ie they are not able to sit. This might be to pick up a loved one from an aged care facility and take them to an appointment, or to take someone home after discharge from hospital. There is a user charge for this service, based on the kilometres travelled, and the cost of this type of transfer is not covered as part of the annual ambulance membership or home alarm schemes. To find out more, please call us on 0800 ST JOHN (0800 785 646) or send an email.
Questions
- How much does an Ambulance Transfer cost?
If booked by a healthcare professional, the cost of an ambulance transfer may be covered by Health NZ. Please check if this is the case before the transfer takes place.
If the ambulance transfer is a private booking (booked by a member of the public), the patient/whanau are responsible for the cost of the service. The cost depends on the number of kilometres travelled, the number of staff required, and whether the distance requires an overnight stay for Hato Hone St John staff. A quote will be provided and must be accepted by the patient/whanau prior to the transfer commencing.
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Distance travelled
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Charge (GST inclusive)
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35km or less
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$243.80
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Over 35km
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$9.17 per km
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Non-eligible visitors (minimum charge)*
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$976.00
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*Additional per km charges apply for journeys of more than 35km.
Additional charges may apply for complex ambulance transports, including requests for additional staff and airside retrievals from aircraft.
- What is a high-need patient? How do we know who’s eligible?
A high-need patient is someone who is relying on staff or equipment to keep them safe. For example, someone who needs oxygen, or who requires a stretcher, or is immobile. Hospital or medical centre staff will determine whether someone is high-need.
- Do I pay for a Health Shuttle?
There’s no charge to use the Waka Ora Health Shuttle but we welcome and appreciate koha (donations). The service is funded by voluntary koha from people who use it, and the generosity of people in the community who donate to us.