A Guardian Ambulance service provides medical transport independently of the NHS ambulance service. We offer non-emergency patient transport, emergency transfers between hospitals, event medical cover, and international medical repatriation. While we are a private company, we are CQC regulated, NHS-approved, and maintain the same clinical standards as NHS ambulance services. Many NHS trusts contract us to reduce pressure on their own ambulance fleets.

Yes, we are fully regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of all health and social care services in England. Our most recent inspection rated us 'Good' overall and 'Outstanding' in the category of Care. You can view our full CQC inspection report on the CQC website by searching for Private Ambulance UK.

Yes, we are an approved supplier on multiple NHS procurement frameworks and work with NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups, and hospital discharge teams across the UK. We provide non-emergency patient transport (NEPTS), inter-hospital transfers, and discharge transport that helps reduce pressure on NHS ambulance services and hospital bed occupancy.

Costs vary depending on the distance, vehicle type, crew requirements, and urgency of the journey. A typical non-emergency patient transfer starts from around £180 for local journeys, while longer distances and specialist vehicles (such as bariatric ambulances) are priced accordingly. We provide fixed, transparent quotes with no hidden fees. NHS-funded journeys are charged at agreed framework rates. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote.

Many private health insurance policies include cover for private ambulance transport, particularly for emergency transfers and medical repatriation. We recommend checking your specific policy details or contacting your insurer. For air ambulance repatriations, we can liaise directly with your insurance company and often secure pre-authorisation on your behalf. We also accept direct payment by debit/credit card and bank transfer.

All our clinical staff are fully qualified and registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) where applicable. Our crews include paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and ambulance care assistants, all of whom undergo regular training updates, safeguarding training, and dementia awareness courses. Every staff member holds an enhanced DBS certificate and receives annual clinical skills assessments.

Yes, in most cases one relative or escort can travel with the patient in our patient transport ambulances, subject to space and clinical appropriateness. For emergency transfers requiring advanced life support, we may need to limit escorts to ensure crew access to the patient. Please mention your requirement for an escort when booking so we can allocate the appropriate vehicle.

You can book planned patient transport by calling our 24/7 control room on 0800 607 1009 or completing the online booking form on our Contact page. We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance for non-urgent journeys, though we can often accommodate shorter notice. We'll need the patient's details, pickup address, destination, appointment time, and any mobility or clinical requirements.

Yes, all our ambulances are equipped with NHS-specification stretchers and can transport patients who are unable to sit in a wheelchair or standard seat. We provide stretcher transport for bed-bound patients, post-operative cases, spinal injury patients, and palliative care transfers. Our stretchers feature pressure-relieving mattresses and full restraint systems for safe, comfortable journeys.

We provide coverage across the entire United Kingdom including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with operational bases in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. For international medical repatriation, we coordinate ground ambulance transport to and from all UK airports and can arrange flights from worldwide destinations.

We understand that hospital appointments can run late. Our crews wait for patients at hospitals without additional charge for up to 2 hours for outpatient appointments. If your appointment is cancelled, please call our control room as soon as possible and we will reschedule your return transport at no extra cost. For dialysis and recurring appointments, we build flexibility into our scheduling.

For emergency inter-hospital transfers, our average response time is 15-25 minutes in metropolitan areas and 30-45 minutes in rural locations, depending on distance from our nearest available vehicle. Our emergency ambulances are blue-light capable for urgent transfers. When you call our emergency line, our dispatcher immediately identifies the nearest available crew and provides an estimated time of arrival.