POAC-supported travel

Transport may be available for patients who are under POAC funding.  

Scenarios include:

1. Transport to radiology for POAC-funded XR, USS, CT.

2. Transport to and from GP/UCC for ongoing POAC-funded treatment (e.g. IV ABs).

3. Transport from hospital to ARC (rest home/private hospital) facility (ideally, facilitated by the hospital).

4. If the patient has been assessed by St John and then taken to a GP or Urgent Care Clinic, we'll cover the cost of the transfer back home (if there's no other way to get there), or an ambulance to the hospital.

5. Transport to/from POAC-funded ARC facility for urgent medical appointments.  (This does not include pre-arranged routine appointments and private transport would have been required).

6. Where an ambulance has been called and a delay in pick up has been advised, if it is clinically safe to transfer via taxi/uber.

Transport options include:

1. Taxi

2. Uber

3. Mobility transport

4. Ambulance transfer (non-urgent)

How to arrange:

• Call POAC office (09) 535 7218 (Mon-Fri 8.30-4.30) to request. 

• Arrange ambulance transfer directly.  Request invoice to POAC OR forward invoice copy to accounts@poac.co.nz

• Most UCCs will hold instructions to book transport directly and charge to the POAC account (if you are an UCC and do not have this, please email us, poac@easthealth.co.nz).

• For mobility or ambulance requests, please provide early notice as there will be a minimum stand-down time of 90 minutes.

• When requesting an appointment for diagnostic imaging, ensure the POAC coordinator is informed of any transportation requirements.

POAC does NOT fund:

• Transport to hospital under normal circumstances (i.e. standard transfer to hospital)

• Patient transportation if they are NOT under the POAC service

• Where POAC is requested solely for transportation purposes

• Routine, non-acute appointments

• Transportation for maternity, AUB, LARC, zoledronate/iron infusion cases, or any other non-acute POAC service