What is ACCESS?
ACCESS is an NHS service covering critical care patients within London. We provide safe and efficient transfer of critically ill and high-risk patients between hospitals.
Our specialist team includes retrieval and transfer trained Consultants, Doctors-in-Training and Transfer Practitioners using dedicated ambulances to allow continuing critical care during transit.
ACCESS provides care to patients over the age of sixteen years, but we may occasionally transfer teenage children who are adult sized where children’s transfer services are unavailable, or patients are being cared for by adult services.
Why am I, or my loved one, being moved?
There are many reasons to be transferred between hospitals.
The clinical team at your current location will be able to discuss your specific case with you and explain the reasons for this decision. I
n general, there are three reasons why a
patient may be moved:
- Clinical transfer — being transferred for specialist treatment not available in the original hospital.
- Repatriation transfer – being transferred to a local hospital closer to home, usually following a period of specialist care.
- Non-clinical transfer — being transferred because the local Intensive Care Unit has no available beds. These
are the least common type of transfer.
Can relatives travel with us?
Unfortunately, we are usually unable to allow relatives to travel with us in the ambulance, however, we or the accepting team will notify the next of kin on arrival at the receiving
destination. You should be provided with contact details for the receiving destination by your clinical team to allow relatives to
make their own way there or arrange future visits.
In certain circumstances, such as with a patient under sixteen years old, it may be possible for parents or guardians to accompany the patient in the ambulance.
What treatment will I or my relative receive during transfer?
Our teams can provide portable critical care whilst moving patients in our ambulance – this includes artificial ventilation, administration of sedatives or blood pressure medication and monitoring of patient observations.
Our teams will ensure that patients are as comfortable as possible during transit. It is possible to adjust temperature, position, lighting, administer pain relief and administer anti-sickness medication should it be required. Your comfort is a key priority for us.
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