As a Patient Transport Service (PTS) driver, you play a vital role in the healthcare system by safely transporting disabled, elderly, sick, or vulnerable individuals to and from outpatient clinics, day care centres, and routine hospital appointments.
Key Responsibilities
Your primary responsibility is the well-being of your passengers. Given that many of them may be in fragile health, you will need to be equipped with life-saving skills to handle any medical emergencies that may arise during the journey.
Beyond driving, you’ll assist patients in and out of the vehicle, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout the trip. Punctuality is crucial as you ensure they arrive on time for their appointments. Many of your passengers may be anxious about their hospital visits or lead isolated lives, making your reassuring demeanour and friendly conversation invaluable. Over time, you’ll often develop a rapport with regular passengers.
Your role will typically be hospital, covering a specific local area. The job may require shift work and could involve operating as part of a two-person team using a specially designed vehicle equipped with a tail-lift for wheelchairs, transporting multiple patients per journey. Alternatively, you might work independently, driving a standard vehicle to transport one or two individuals at a time.
Additional duties include maintaining the cleanliness and organization of your vehicle and accurately recording all journeys. With experience, you may have the opportunity to take on specialized tasks, such as transporting:
- Infants
- Mental health patients
- Individuals in palliative care
- Kidney patients
Entry Requirements
While there are no formal entry requirements to become a PTS driver, employers typically expect strong literacy and numeracy skills. At PTS, we highly value relevant experience, particularly with elderly or disabled individuals, whether in paid or voluntary roles.
A full manual driving license is required, and depending on when you passed your test, you may need additional qualifications to drive larger vehicles or transport passengers. It’s essential to verify the specific classifications required on your license.
Essential Skills
To excel as a PTS driver, you must be patient, caring, and calm under pressure. A genuine interest in people is crucial, as is the ability to reassure those who may be nervous and manage challenging behaviour. Physical fitness and strong communication skills are also vital in this role.
Training and Development
Your initial training typically involves a two to three-week course covering:
- Moving and handling techniques
- First aid
- Basic patient care skills
- Safe driving techniques
Training includes both practical assessments and written exams. Upon successfully completing these, you will work under the guidance of a trained supervisor before operating independently.
As you gain experience, opportunities for career advancement include roles such as team leader or supervisor, overseeing a team of assistants and drivers. Further training could also lead to positions such as Emergency Care Assistant, and with significant experience, you could pursue training to become a paramedic, subject to passing entrance exams and meeting additional requirements.
Compensation and Benefits
A standard workweek for a PTS driver is approximately 36.5 hours, potentially including shifts with early starts, evenings, and weekends. Compensation is aligned with the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system, typically starting at band 2 or 3.
You will also benefit from a comprehensive pension scheme, health service discounts, and 27 days of annual leave, which increases with length of service, in addition to bank holidays.