Transport
- Types of Transport
- Who organises the transport ?
- Who can travel with the child ?
- Who pays for the transport ?
- Destinations
Types of Transport
PETS uses road ambulances, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters operated by, or under contract to, the Ambulance Service of Victoria.
Road ambulances are staffed by two ambulance officers. The vehicles carry a single stretcher and have sources of oxygen, suction, 240V and 12V power, and a cardiac defibrillator.
The Air Ambulances fixed wing aircraft are Beechcraft Super King Air 2000 pressurised aircraft. These are staffed by a pilot and paramedic/MICA paramedic and can carry two stretcher patients.
The helicopters used are a Dauphin and Bell 412 based at Essendon Airport and three Bell 412s based at Latrobe Valley, Bendigo and Warnambool Airports. They are staffed by a pilot, observer and MICA paramedic. They are fully equipped mobile intensive care ambulances.
Who organises the transport ?
If PETS is coming to retrieve the child, the PETS team will organize the transport to the referring hospital. In all other cases, the best mode of transport is decided by the PETS doctor and referring doctor. The referring doctor may be asked to organize the transport.In Melbourne Metropolitan hospitals, PETS will ask the staff to organize a MAS ambulance for the team when they are ready to transfer the child.
Who can travel with the child ?
There is limited space available in all emergency transport vehicles. In most instances, there will be no room for a parent to accompany the child. This decision is made by the crew of the emergency transport vehicle and is dependant upon the child's condition, weight, seats available, fuel load, and weather conditions. PETS may not know until the team arrives and assess the child whether the parent can accompany their child.
Who pays for the transport ?
The ambulance service charges the referring hospital for the cost of the transport. PETS does not charge for the service it provides.
Destinations
Most children transferred by PETS are taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne or Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.
Royal Children's Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville Vic. 3052, Australia
The hospital is located in Parkville on the corner of Flemington Road and Gatehouse Street (Melway map 43 E3, UBD page no. 253 grid ref. B5)
See an interactivelocation map from the following website:
Monash Medical Centre
246 Clayton Rd, Clayton VIC 3168 - (03) 9594 6666