Examples

Priority 1 • Accident where no medical attention is available

eg. roadside, mine, station;

• Potentially life-threatening problem without adequate facilities

eg. heart attack, epiglottitis, meningitis, respiratory failure or premature neonate in a nursing post or small hospital;

• Time critical condition

eg. arterial occlusion, aortic aneurysm, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, imminent delivery, uncontrolled haemorrhage

Priority 2 • Urgent medical problem where some stabilisation and treatment is possible locally but patient must be moved promptly

eg. cardiac failure, acute abdomen, preeclampsia, pneumonia, unstable angina, term infant with early respiratory distress, compound fractures, penetrating eye injury

Priority 3 • Elective inter-hospital or clinic transfer. Patient is in a stable condition with reasonable resources available.

eg. conditions for investigation, patients from clinics, returning patients

• May include seriously ill where time is not critical.

eg. stable ventilator-dependent patient, transferred due to staff shortages

• An acceptable delay period may be added to give a better indication of time frame.

For example "within 12 hours, 24 hours, or 48 hours", or "today, or tonight".

Stand-by

• these patients are non-urgent, being transported for specialist review, admission for confinement (from a clinic) or may be returning patients;

• alternative means of transport should be strongly considered.

Priorities are only a tool for tasking aircraft and some discretion should be used if specific needs cannot be accommodated under the definitions outlined. The priority should be set on the medical need and not to suit our operational capabilities.

Last Updated: 21/08/2007