Patient Transportation for Referrals, Transfers and Discharge

1. Transportation for patients are provided as per the standard regulations and guidelines of the

Ministry of Health

2. Further the Mental Diseases Ordinance has also recognized provisions to provide transport for the patients especially after discharge.

3. Transport is handled by a Subject Officer at the Main Office - Inquiries Section under the direct supervision of the Administrative Officer.

4. All requests for transport during day time should be made in writing by filling the relevant form or documenting on the BHT. In the night this is done via the telephone exchange under the supervision of the night duty PHMA. .

5. Except in urgent cases all transport needs should be pre booked.

6. Provision of transport is costly and it is the duty of all staff officers to ensure that transport facilities are not misused.

7. Urgent need for Ambulances will be arranged by the Office/ Exchange once informed via telephone.

Even urgent ambulance usage should authorized by the Director/ Deputy Director or Senior Medical

Officer On Call

8. Routine ambulance bookings should be made preferably the day before. Director Authorization should be sought beforehand.

9. When a patient is sent for a referral the treating Psychiatry Team should assess the suitability of the patient to be sent to another institution via ambulance based on the assessed psychiatric risk. The relevant unit Medical Officers should decide the level of accompaniment spending on the risk and if need be should get opinion from Consultant or Senior Registrar. Following decisions can be documented based on psychiatric risk assessment and the medical conditions. a. Routine transport with one support staff member b. Routine transport with two support staff members c. Separate Ambulance transport with two support staff members d. Separate Ambulance Transfer with accompaniment of a Nursing Officer and Support Staff Member/s e. Separate Ambulance Transfer with accompaniment of a Medical Officer, Nursing Officer and Support Staff Member/s f. Differ transfer until patient is stabilized psychiatry wise or medical wise

10. The Consultant/ Senior Registrar/ Medical Officer who orders the transport carries liability to the state with regard to the transport cost incurred and as such decisions must be taken carefully.

11. Routine transport for patients to for NHSL is expected to leave NIMH on or before 8.00 am on working days.

12. Transport of discharged patients can be provided in the following manner. a. Provision of bus fare for patient to reach home on his/her own accord or with staff member b. Provision of railway warrant for patient to reach home on his/ her accord or with staff member accompanying c. Provision of Ambulance to transfer patients to further care and follow up to closest psychiatry unit to the patient‘s area of residence d. Provision of ambulance/bus/ van to drop patients home accompanied by PSW/CPN/ Support Staff

13. For above requests must be made via the BHT as well as the relevant forms.

14. Transportation for staff for official matters will be considered as per existing regulations.