Mental health patient transport

The Transport Order, Form 4A (or ARO Form 7D) and the Mental Health Patient Transport Risk Rating Form (SMHMR994) are to be provided to the Transport Provider (the Contractor) irrespective of the risk rating.

• MHA 2014 Information for Referring Practitioners Guide (PDF 324KB)
• Flowchart for Referring Practitioners (external site)
• MH buyers guide (PDF 689KB).

An object of the Mental Health Act 2014 (MHA 2014) is to ensure that people with a mental illness are provided with the least possible restriction of their freedom and the least possible interference with their rights with respect to their dignity. • Mental health patients have the right to safe transport that minimises interference with their rights, dignity and self-respect, and that reduces the likelihood that they will experience transport that is a traumatic event. This right needs to be balanced with the safety of all concerned and the active management of risk. In determining the choice of transport to be used, consideration should be given to the current situation, relevant risks and impact on family, friends and carers. This may include the consideration for:

a. Transport by a private vehicle or taxi

b. Transport by mental health service vehicle with accompanying clinical staff

c. Transport by Ambulance – refer to transport contacts section

d. Transport by police

Transport of a person with mental health problems by police should always be the option of last resort when all other transport options are considered unsuitable.

Police may be requested to attend when there is a significant risk of harm to the person or others in the course of transport.

Transport in a police vehicle is more restrictive and may add to stigma for the person and family of those who are mentally ill

In some situations, however, the ambulance paramedics may determine they cannot provide transport without assistance.

This is a decision that must be made between mental health clinicians and ambulance contractors prior to contacting police.

Relevant forms

• Form 4A (PDF 319KB) must be validly completed – provide brief explanation about consequences if not completed correctly (e.g. it will not be acted on and will delay the referred person being transported) Example of a completed Form 4A (PDF 308KB)
• Mental Health Transport Risk Matrix form (PDF 209KB) must be completed
• Transport officer/police transport booking process (PDF 216KB) – who to contact and where to send completed Form 4A & Risk Matrix forms
• Metro escalation process - The Duty Control Commander at WA Police on 9374 4025 should only be contacted if a situation occurs when reasonable assistance is not being provided

WACHS process differs from Metro process (WACHS does not have access to transport officers and cannot use WMO) 

As per the Mental Health Act, WA Police Force are the agency to enact Form 4As in WACHS regions.Referrals can be made by a psychiatrist, medical practitioner or an authorised mental health practitioner

• Form 4A (PDF 319KB) (Errors noted by the police on the form will delay the referred person being transported). Example of a completed Form 4A (PDF 322KB)
• Police will escalate via WACHS Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service: MentalHealthService.Telehealth@health.wa.gov.au any errors on either the 4A/7D/Transport Risk Assessment Form
• Mental Health Transport Risk Matrix form (PDF 365KB) must be completed.
• A Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) reference number needs to be allocated to the transport/police officer request. To do this
  1. Dial 131 444 and log police escort job to obtain a CAD number
  2. Complete the Transport Order and the Mental Health Transport Risk Matrix Form and email these to: Communications.Mental.Health.Smail@police.wa.gov.au with the CAD job number written on the front cover page along with a primary and secondary contact number for the referring person.
• Escalation on any transport delays through WACHS Mental Health Patient Flow WACHSMHPatientFlow@health.wa.gov.au

Emergency

St John Ambulance
Phone – 000 or (08) 9334 1234
Operating hours – 24 hours, 7 days

Inter hospital transport

Where a Form 4A, 4B or 7D does not apply / is not in place.

All providers offer IHPT services from 6am to 10pm daily, including weekends and public holidays.

Please note: Service users may request transports outside of the operational hours however service providers do have the right to accept or decline the transport.

Wilson Medic One
Phone: 1300 284 940
Book online (external site)

St John Ambulance
Phone: (08) 9334 1234
Book online (external site) 

National Patient transport
Phone: 1300 628 728
Book online (external site)  

Medical Edge
Phone: 1300 427 944
Book online (external site) 

Absolute Medical Response
Phone: 1300 808 322
Book online (external site)  

Mental health transport (Form 4A, 4B or 7D)

Mental Health Patient Transport Services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Wilson Medic One
Phone: 1300 284 940
Book online (external site)