**The information on this page is intended for the use of health and social care professionals only.**
We are proud to be able to provide the UK's only dedicated end of life transport service for patients with support from our FSNE colleagues.
Please note, we are only able to accept bookings for our end of life transport vehicles from healthcare professionals. If you are a member of the public wishing to book one of these vehicles for a family member, please contact your GP to discuss your needs further.
We have three dedicated vehicles, which operate Monday-Friday between 9am-7pm, including bank holidays. The shifts are 9am-5pm, 10am-6pm, and 11am-7pm.
We have produced a video guide for booking an end of life ambulance, which may be used as a teaching aid for healthcare professionals.
*The information in the video below remains the same, but it is FSNE and not St John's Ambulance who deliver this service.
Further information
Dying patients have a dedicated service that does not rely on using core NEAS vehicles. This is to enable these patients to die in their place of choice and get there in a timely manner.
To help NEAS allocate the three End of Life vehicles in the most efficient way, please can you read and comply with the following points for booking one of the End of Life Vehicles.
How many end of life vehicles are there?
NEAS have the use of three end of life vehicles, operated by FSNE.
Booking number
Call the urgent line on 0191 414 3144 to book an End of Life vehicle.
Booking times
Booking an end of life journey can be made anytime but please note the dedicated end of life vehicles can only be booked Monday to Friday 0800-1700 including bank holidays.
Anything outside of these hours will be completed by a core emergency vehicle, so please be aware they may be subject to a delay.
Response times
IN HOURS - Monday to Friday 08:00hrs – 17:00hrs - Always booked as a 1 hour response.
OUT OF HOURS – You will be asked if you would like a 1, 2 or 4 hour response.
Appropriate use
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The vehicles will transfer the patient on their final journey to wherever their chosen place of care/death may be.
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They can transfer from one house to another or one room to another, in the same house.
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The vehicles can be used to admit a patient into a hospice or palliative care unit (PCU) for symptom control at EOL. If the patient stabilises in the hospice or PCU and wishes to be discharged home to die, a further journey in the EOL transport will be an appropriate use of this service.
N.B. If the patient is going to a hospice, you will be asked what the latest admission time is for that hospice to accept the patient. This information must be provided before the booking can be accepted.
Inappropriate use
- If the patient is going for ongoing treatment or returning from treatment, please pre-book these journeys via the patient transport service (PTS) if own transport is not available.
- If the patient is going for investigations, this should be booked via the urgent line, but this would not be an EOL booking.
Remember, just because the patient is palliative, does not mean this is their final journey, or they are dying and require an EOL vehicle.
Ready to travel
The patient must be ready, at the time booking e.g. medication, and community prescription chart, DNACPR etc. If they are not, you will be asked to ring back when the patient is ready.
Out of area requests
- All out of area requests need to be pre-booked via PTS on 0191 264 8870. N.B. PTS can only be contacted Monday – Friday 0800-1800.
- Advance notice of 24 – 48 hours is required for these journeys.
- If the patient is being transferred to an address that borders NEAS such as North Yorkshire, Cumbria, and the Scottish borders, these may be possible on the same day, at the discretion of the Dispatch Shift Manager. You will be advised accordingly.
Continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) also known as syringe drivers
All crews can transport patients with a CSCI running. Please be aware our crews aren’t trained to operate them.
For long distance journeys, please consider the patients’ symptom control needs for the duration. Please inform us If there is someone escorting the patient who can administer medication during the journey if this is required. NEAS can arrange a clinical crew, if necessary, but please note advance notice of this is required.
Do not attempt cardio-pulmonary resuscitation - DNACPR
- The DNACPR must travel with the patient.
- It is optional to complete the section regarding where a patient’s body should be taken should they die en route. This is only necessary if the patient is likely to die en route.
- It is not necessary to have a DNACPR to use this service
Access and mobility
If a stretcher is requested for the journey, you will be asked the following questions:
N.B. If the patient needs to travel in their own wheelchair this MUST be declared on the call. The journey will require our dispatch team to send a resource that can accommodate this. Please be aware that availability is not guaranteed on the same day.
Why is access important?
Without this information, a patient may be taken home only to be brought back to the hospice or hospital if access isn’t suitable. This can be deeply upsetting for the patient and their family at an already difficult time, and it also uses resources unnecessarily. Sharing these details at the point of call helps ensure patients can be transferred to their preferred place of care and death with dignity and respect.
Setting expectations
Please be aware we have limited vehicles covering this service so delays may occur. If your ambulance is going to be delayed, you will receive a courtesy call from one of our staff to explain the delay and discuss other options.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact:
- The End of Life Team Team email eol.
queries (Suitable for Patient Identifiable Information)@neas.nhs.uk - End of Life Care Facilitator Karen.Hertwick@neas.nhs.uk 07973694555
- Macmillan Engagement Officer Paul.Galloway@neas.nhs.uk 07976986466
- Macmillan Admin Support Chloe.Taylor@neas.nhs.uk 07973767740
For the most up to date advice and guidance, please visit the deciding right website https://northerncanceralliance.nhs.uk/deciding-right/
SPN form must be completed electronically and sent via email to special.
Please note, this form is for healthcare professional use only.
DNACPRs
Deciding Right is a North-East initiative for making care decisions in advance. All care decisions must come from a shared partnership between the professional, child, young person or adult. But for those who do not have capacity for their choices, or may lose that capacity in the future it is important that the right choices are made.
NEAS should be notified of any advance care planning*, e.g. DNACPR, EHCP’s, etc. A flag can then be added to the patients address to advise call handlers of any decisions identified on the SPN form. The information on the SPN form will support the decision making by NEAS staff, in providing the appropriate response and care, aligning to the patients wishes and preferences.
*Please be aware that special patient notes, is not just for advance care decisions. See form for details.
DNACPR flags will remain valid on our system until:
- The patient dies,
- Moves out of the NEAS geographical area
- The DNACPR is rescinded (NEAS must be notified of this)
NEAS are hopeful that these changes will promote robust information sharing. Most importantly, ensuring patients advance care decisions are known and respected, and also reducing repetition in completion of SPNs.
Booking the Journey
- Call NEAS urgent line: 0191 414 3144 to book end of life (EOL) transport.
- Always use the urgent line for EOL bookings.
- Exceptions: Out of area, and access assessment requests should be pre booked with PTS (see below).
Appropriate use
- Ensure the patient is on their final journey to preferred place of care/death.
- Use service appropriately—resources are limited.
Think access & mobility
- If there are steps/stairs, or tight bends to get the patient in or out of the property.
- Key question - can the patient transfer into a carry chair?
If yes → book via 0191 414 3144
If no → call 0191 264 8870 for an access assessment.
It must be declared on the call if a patient needs to travel in their own wheelchair. Availability is not guaranteed on the same day.
Out of area transfers
- Call 0191 264 8870 for out-of-area requests.
- Must be booked 24–48 hours in advance (Monday–Friday, excl. bank holidays).
Key reminders
- Bookings taken 24/7 - dedicated vehicles can be booked Mon-Fri (and bank holidays) 08:00-17:00
- 1 hour response time (subject to delay out of hours).
- Patient must be ready to travel (medication, paperwork etc).
- If a DNACPR is in place, this must travel with the patient.
- All crews can transport patients with a syringe driver (they are not trained to operate these devices.)
Contact
EOL.
(Suitable for patient-identifiable information).