Ambulance Transport and Handover Policy

Version 3.0 approved 10 April 2025

The Ambulance Transport and Handover Policy (PDF 333KB) sets out the mandatory requirements to ensure patients who call triple zero and require ambulance transport are taken to the most appropriate destination with the level of clinical capability required to meet the patient’s care needs, and handover of clinical care from SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) clinicians to hospital clinicians occurs in a timely manner.

Applicability

This policy applies to all employees and contracted staff of SA Health; that is all employees, volunteers and contracted staff of the Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW), Local Health Networks (LHNs) (including state-wide services aligned with those Networks) and SAAS.

Version 3.0 update

Following extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, the Ambulance Transport and Handover Policy has been updated.

The following information has been removed from the Ambulance Transport and Handover Policy and can now be found in the Inter-Facility Transfer Policy:

  • Transport between facilities, and discharge to the community.
  • Transport costs.
  • Transport assistance.

In response to common questions or concerns raised during consultation, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is available via FAQ — Ambulance Transport and Handover Policy.

Resources