Ambulance Transfer of Care Policy
MP 0199/26 - Ambulance Transfer of Care Policy (pdf 231KB)
Applicable to: This policy is applicable to Health Service Providers (HSPs) that provide emergency care and the Department of Health.
Description: The Ambulance Transfer of Care Policy (the policy) outlines the minimum requirements for the applicable entities in relation to the timely handover of clinical care from St John Western Australia (SJWA) ambulance officers to Emergency Departments (EDs).
The policy is underpinned by the following key principles:
- to provide a whole-of-hospital approach to ensure safe access to care and public healthcare services to all health consumers
- deliver care guided by professional responsibilities and to provide education and expertise for the prioritisation of patient safety, wellbeing and dignity
- work collaboratively towards improved response times to triple zero calls that require an ambulance
- to ensure efficient and effective handover of patients from SJWA ambulance officers to ED clinicians to avoid delays in transfer of care
- ensure that shared responsibility for community patients who require an emergency ambulance response, by working collaboratively to expedite patient transfer of care and enable prompt release of ambulances to respond to community.
This policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Clinical Services and Planning Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.
This policy is also a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
This policy is to be read in conjunction with the following:
This policy supersedes OD 0613/15 Ambulance Handover in Emergency Departments.
Date of effect: 28 August 2026
Policy Framework
Clinical Services and Planning
Ambulance-Transfer-of-Care-Procedure (pdf 1MB)
Statewide Interhospital Patient Transfer Policy
Statewide Mental Health Bed Access, Capacity and Escalation Policy