Patient Transport Service (PTS) is a NSW Health service for people who require transport to, or from, a health facility such as a hospital or rehabilitation unit but do not need a time-critical emergency ambulance. A person must be assessed by a medical practitioner or registered nurse as medically unsuitable for community, public or private transport before being eligible for PTS.
PTS has historically been provided by a combination of NSW Ambulance and individual local health district fleets. However, in 2014, NSW Health began the process of separating emergency and non-emergency transport services to:
This approach is designed to improve the coordination of patients requiring non-emergency transport; align current resources to ensure patients receive the most appropriate level of care for transport; and create a standardised and consistent level of service.
Working alongside NSW Ambulance, PTS aims to improve patient flow through emergency departments and hospitals, and increase the availability of emergency ambulances for life saving and time-critical incidents.
The Greater Metropolitan Booking Hub coordinates the booking and dispatching of non-urgent patient transport bookings in greater metropolitan Sydney and Hunter New England.
The Greater Metropolitan Booking Hub also provides technical and after-hours operational support to Regional Satellites in Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Goulburn.
PTS Fixed Wing is responsible for non-urgent transports via aircraft.
The Operational Fleets are responsible for transporting patients to and from public and private health facilities.