When you have to travel regularly to hospital or a treatment centre, one question comes up again and again: do you need an ambulance, or is a registered taxi enough? The two are not for the same thing. Let me explain the difference simply, so you know which one fits your situation.
It's a common, and perfectly understandable, source of confusion. People talk about "patient transport" without always knowing that several modes exist, designed for very different needs. The good news is that the rule is clear, and it's never up to you to decide on your own. Here are the essentials, without the jargon.
A registered taxi like TR27 provides seated transport. It is for patients who can travel sitting, in a comfortable car, and who don't need care or medical supervision during the trip. It's the right solution for many appointments: dialysis sessions, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, consultations, tests, or a hospital admission and discharge for an autonomous patient. You get in, I drive you, and you arrive relaxed. Wheelchair users are welcome if they are able-bodied; we do not provide a wheelchair.
An ambulance meets a different need. It is designed for patients who must be transported lying down, or who require medical supervision or assistance during the journey. That is a specific, regulated activity, with suitable equipment and staff. To be completely clear: TR27 does not provide this type of transport. I offer no ambulance service, no lying-down transport, and no medical care during the trip. My job is seated transport, in good, comfortable conditions.
Good news: it's not for you to guess. It is your doctor who assesses your condition and indicates the right mode of transport directly on the transport prescription. If they consider that you can travel sitting and don't need care on the way, they prescribe seated transport, and a registered taxi is then the intended solution. Your doctor is the right person to ask if you're unsure: raise the question at your appointment.
For many patients going to dialysis, chemotherapy or a consultation, seated transport is simply the right answer: more flexible, comfortable, and with a driver you come to know well over the trips. As long as you can sit and don't need care during the journey, a taxi like TR27 is the right option. The trip is carried out on a transport prescription written by your doctor. To learn more about seated patient transport, see my dedicated article on seated patient transport in the Eure.
What is the difference between a registered taxi and an ambulance?
A registered taxi provides seated transport for patients who can sit and don't need care during the trip: dialysis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, consultations, hospital admission or discharge for autonomous patients. An ambulance is for patients who must lie down or who need medical supervision during the journey. That is a different, regulated activity that TR27 does not provide.
How do I know whether I need a taxi or an ambulance?
It is your doctor who decides the right mode of transport for your condition and indicates it on the transport prescription. If you can travel sitting and don't need care during the journey, a registered taxi like TR27 is the right and comfortable option.
Do I need a prescription for a registered taxi trip?
Yes. Seated patient transport in a registered taxi is carried out on a transport prescription written by your doctor, who indicates the mode of transport suited to your condition. TR27 is registered with the French health insurance (Assurance Maladie) and carries out these seated trips.
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