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Wish Ambulance Scotland

Request a Wish

Wish referrals are not yet open.

Wish Ambulance Scotland SCIO is a registered Scottish charity (Scottish Charity Number: SC055546). The service is still being developed and is not yet operational.

We are therefore not currently accepting referrals or arranging Wish Journeys. We will update this page when the service is ready to receive requests safely.

Service in development

Referrals are currently closed.

Our planned service

What we plan to offer

Wish Ambulance Scotland aims to provide free, planned and clinically supported Wish Journeys for people living with a life-limiting illness whose medical needs mean that ordinary transport is no longer safe, comfortable or practical.

A Wish Journey might help someone visit a person or place that matters deeply to them, attend an important family occasion, return to a much-loved location or simply create a meaningful memory with the people closest to them.

Each request will be considered individually. A journey will only proceed where it can be planned safely and where suitable clinical support, volunteers, equipment and practical arrangements are available.

Aerial view of Aberdeen beach and harbour
Aberdeen beach and harbour.

Who will be able to refer?

When referrals open, requests will need to be made or supported by a registered healthcare professional directly involved in the person’s care. This may include a professional from:

  • a hospice or specialist palliative care service;
  • a hospital team;
  • a community healthcare team; or
  • another service responsible for the person’s ongoing clinical care.

The person’s wishes, consent and clinical needs will remain central throughout the process. Family members will be welcome to discuss the idea with the person’s healthcare team, but a conversation will not guarantee that a journey can be provided.

While referrals are closed

Healthcare organisations, hospices and specialist teams interested in discussing future referral arrangements or partnership working can contact us.

Please do not send names, dates of birth, medical records or any other patient-identifiable or sensitive clinical information by email at this stage. A secure referral process will be published before referrals open.

Professional or partnership enquiry

A careful process

How requests will be considered

Before agreeing to a Wish Journey, we expect to consider:

  1. The person’s wish — where they hope to go, why it matters and who they would like with them.
  2. Clinical needs — current condition, symptoms, mobility, medicines, oxygen, equipment and the support required during travel.
  3. Safety and practicality — journey length, destination access, timing, contingency planning and whether travel remains appropriate.
  4. Resources — availability of a suitable vehicle, trained volunteers, clinical support and any necessary equipment.
  5. A shared plan — agreement with the person, their healthcare team and those accompanying them.

Every request will be different. Submitting a request will not automatically mean that a Wish Journey can take place.

This is not an emergency service

Wish Ambulance Scotland will not provide emergency responses or routine patient transport.

In a medical emergency, call 999. For urgent health advice in Scotland when it is not an emergency, contact NHS 24 on 111.