Medicar has specialist experience assessing patient transport where doorways, corridors, steps, lifts or room layouts make ordinary equipment unsuitable.
Restricted access should be identified before the crew arrives. A route that appears straightforward may include a tight turn, a narrow lift, an uneven path or insufficient space to transfer the passenger safely.
Measurements and photographs can help Medicar decide whether specialist equipment or a different configuration may be suitable. The passenger's needs always remain part of that decision; the smallest equipment is not automatically the right equipment.
Some journeys need a site visit or additional staff. Others may not be suitable within the available equipment or environment. The assessment is intended to reach an honest plan rather than promise that every route is possible.
Door width alone is not enough. Include landings, corridor angles, lift dimensions, steps and the space available beside the bed or chair.
Photographs and measurements that help
Show the entire route from the passenger's starting position to the vehicle and from the vehicle to the destination position.
- Narrowest doorway width
- Corridor width and tight turns
- Number, height and direction of steps
- Lift door and internal dimensions
- Surface, slope and distance to the vehicle
- Space around the passenger's starting and finishing position
Equipment and staffing follow the assessment
A stretcher-to-chair configuration may assist in some environments when suitable for the passenger. It is not used simply because a route is narrow, and it cannot overcome every structural barrier.
Any manual-handling plan must be proportionate to the passenger, equipment, crew and property. Changes to access before the journey should be reported.
Frequently asked questions
What should I photograph?
Photograph the passenger's starting position, every doorway and turn, any steps or lift, the outside path and the likely vehicle position.
Can you transport someone from an upstairs room?
This must be assessed individually. Stairs, landings, passenger needs, equipment and staffing determine whether a suitable plan is available.
Does stretcher-to-chair equipment fit everywhere?
No. It can help in some circumstances, but it still has dimensions and suitability limits. The passenger and access must both be assessed.
Can you do a site assessment before the journey?
A site assessment may be considered when photographs and measurements are not enough, subject to location and availability.