The RFDS in SA/NT
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Inter-Hospital Patient Transfers
In South Australia and the Northern Territory, the RFDS transfers 20 patients a day from country hospitals to metropolitan hospitals for life-saving treatment or higher levels of care.
![RFDS Medi-Jet 24 patient transfer](https://thumbor.ixchosted.com/0Gh3fpsLLnzNw41wyrfzjnkjme4=/1200x0/https://rfds-media.s3.amazonaws.com/dd/full_width_image/RFDS_Central_Operations._The_new_RFDS_Medi-Jet_24_at_Adelaide_about_to_emark_on_patient_transfer._Photographer_Shane_Reid.7b31.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA57J6V557HP5WJ6WZ&Signature=qIKNGHS%2BvAZBWqfUgtkh04GsGNU%3D&Expires=1722062585)
About our patient transfers
In addition to our emergency aeromedical retrieval service in outback Australia, the RFDS airlifts patients between country and metropolitan hospitals on a daily basis.
On average, the RFDS flies 20 times a day across South Australia, including to regional locations such as Port Pirie and Mount Gambier, to transport patients to hospitals, as well as safely return them home.
Once a patient is admitted to a country hospital often their condition can deteriorate, with urgent need for specialist treatment at a major hospital. Urgent transfers often involve organ transplant patients or a newborn baby requiring heart surgery interstate.
Inter-hospital transfers are not just for people living in the country - one in every 20 people transferred in South Australia has an Adelaide postcode.
![RFDS road patient transport service](https://thumbor.ixchosted.com/RfQQ95Taf9A4po9Wg5WzLkgUAg8=/900x0/https://rfds-media.s3.amazonaws.com/dd/text_and_image/371A0617_-_small.9899.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA57J6V557HP5WJ6WZ&Signature=h2AGVsezWZcPgF65jZAWI9LqC%2BA%3D&Expires=1722062585)
Road Patient Transport Service
In 2022, the RFDS launched a road patient transport service to complement its longstanding aeromedical services across South Australia.
The new Adelaide-based service, comprising two purpose-built RFDS Ambulances and a team of Patient Transport Officers, supports the outbound transfers of rural, remote and regional patients following treatment in a metropolitan hospital, and responds to non-emergency ambulance transport requests from SA Ambulance Service.
![Long-haul and interstate transfers](https://thumbor.ixchosted.com/35W40eYTPfU9u4Rnk8rloS4X3jk=/900x0/https://rfds-media.s3.amazonaws.com/dd/text_and_image/190503_Images_RFDS_Medi-Jet_24_Unpaved_Landing_North_Well_Station_HIGH_Resolution.e37b.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA57J6V557HP5WJ6WZ&Signature=ce%2BphoWLkTuGO2jwXSO%2BDawDynE%3D&Expires=1722062585)
Long-haul & Interstate transfers
Our fleet features two RFDS PC-24 Jets, offering fast long-haul/interstate evacuations and repatriations for up to three patients.
The world’s first purpose-built aeromedical jet packages the RFDS’s signature aeromedical interior and seamless patient loading system with the unparalleled performance and versatility of the state-of-the-art Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet.
The RFDS PC-24 fleet is also available for air ambulance charter service. Click below to find out more.
![RFDS patient transfer](https://thumbor.ixchosted.com/oKKGhDbt2U0fEPhmrB0q0rrQyb4=/1200x0/https://rfds-media.s3.amazonaws.com/dd/full_width_image/Adel_Hangar_Shoot_August_2014_3.23ad.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA57J6V557HP5WJ6WZ&Signature=IubiTd6O6ebSIzrQK7lxd9paEcY%3D&Expires=1722062585)
Learn more about how the RFDS supports healthy and happy lives in SA/NT.