Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Ambulances and patient transport around cancer surgery in Hyderabad | CION Cancer Clinics
In an emergency anywhere in Telangana, dial 108 for the free government ambulance. For planned trips, such as a transfer between hospitals or the drive home after discharge, families use a hospital or private ambulance, or a comfortable car. This page explains which suits which situation, how to book a planned transfer, what charges depend on, and how to make a long journey home safer. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
MM
Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- Which ambulance or transport should you use around cancer surgery in Hyderabad?
- What kinds of ambulance and transport are there?
- How do you book a planned ambulance transfer?
- Car or ambulance for the journey home?
- What do families often get wrong about ambulances?
- What about long journeys home, and what does it cost?
- Common questions about ambulances and patient transport
The short answer
Which ambulance or transport should you use around cancer surgery in Hyderabad?
For an emergency anywhere in Telangana, dial 108 for the free government ambulance. For planned trips, such as a transfer between hospitals or going home after discharge, most families use a private or hospital ambulance, or simply a comfortable car.
Most people do not need an ambulance to go home
After many operations you can sit in a car, with a pillow and a few stops on the way. An ambulance is for people who must lie flat, need oxygen, have tubes that need watching, or are too weak to sit for the journey. The ward team will tell you which applies to you before discharge.
Why the type of ambulance matters
Ambulances in the city range from a simple vehicle with a stretcher to a fully equipped unit with a trained team and monitors. Booking the right one saves money when the trip is simple and avoids danger when it is not.
Who decides
For a transfer, the treating doctor decides the level of support needed. For a planned trip home, ask the discharging nurse directly: "Can she travel sitting up, or does she need an ambulance?"
Save 108 and your hospital's emergency number on every family member's phone before the operation.
!
When to call 108 straight away
If someone at home after surgery has heavy bleeding, sudden breathlessness, chest pain, a fit, confusion or collapses, call 108 now. Do not wait for a private car, and do not drive across the city to the hospital that did the operation if a nearer emergency department can see them first. Tell the crew about the recent operation, and hand them the discharge summary.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistWhat is on offer
What kinds of ambulance and transport are there?
Names differ between providers. Ask what is inside the vehicle and who travels with the patient, not only what it is called.
108 emergency ambulance
The free government service for emergencies across Telangana. It takes the patient to a suitable nearby hospital, which may not be your surgical centre.
Basic life support ambulance
A stretcher, oxygen and a trained attendant. Suitable for a stable patient who needs to lie down, such as after a long operation or with a drain in place.
Advanced life support ambulance
Monitors, a breathing machine and emergency medicines, usually with a doctor or paramedic on board.
Usually used for
- Transfers from one intensive care unit to another
- Patients who are unstable or on oxygen
Car, cab or patient transport van
Right for most discharges and outpatient visits. A van with a wheelchair ramp helps people who cannot climb into a car.
Planned trips
How do you book a planned ambulance transfer?
Ask the ward what level is needed
Basic or advanced, oxygen or not, a nurse or a doctor on board. Write it down so every provider quotes for the same thing.
Ask the hospital first
Many hospitals run their own ambulances or have regular providers. This is often simpler, because the crew already knows the ward and the paperwork.
Confirm the full price in writing
Ask whether the charge covers waiting time, oxygen, the return trip, tolls and night travel. A message on the phone is enough.
Get the papers ready
Carry the discharge summary, medicine list, scans and a referral letter if you are moving to another hospital. Call ahead so they expect you.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Going home
Car or ambulance for the journey home?
A car is usually fine if
Ask about an ambulance if
You can sit up and walk a few steps
You need to lie flat or cannot sit for long
You are breathing comfortably on room air
You still need oxygen
Any drain or bag is secured and not being watched
A tube needs a trained person watching it
The journey is short or can include stops
The journey is long and you are still very weak
Commonly believed
What do families often get wrong about ambulances?
"An ambulance is always safer, so we should book one anyway."
For a stable patient, a comfortable car with stops is often easier on the body than lying strapped to a stretcher on bumpy roads. Ask the ward team which suits you. Paying for more than you need does not add safety.
"108 will take us to the hospital that did the operation."
In an emergency, the crew takes the patient to a suitable hospital nearby. That is the right choice when every minute counts. The emergency team can then call your surgeon and arrange a transfer once the patient is stable.
"It is quicker to put him in our own car than wait."
For heavy bleeding or breathing trouble, it rarely is. The ambulance crew starts care on the way and warns the hospital to be ready. A family member driving in panic through traffic cannot do either.
"Every private ambulance carries the same equipment."
They do not. Some are little more than a van with a stretcher. Ask what is inside, whether the oxygen cylinder is full, and who travels in the back.
Districts and cost
What about long journeys home, and what does it cost?
Families from Warangal, Nizamabad, Khammam or Adilabad often face a long drive after discharge. Plan it before the discharge day, not on it.
Making a long car journey easier
Travel in daylight if you can. Recline the front seat, bring a pillow for the wound, and stop regularly to stretch and walk a little. Moving your legs matters, because sitting still for hours after surgery raises the chance of a clot in the leg. Carry water, medicines and the discharge papers in a bag within reach.
How charges are worked out
Private ambulance charges depend on the distance, the type of ambulance, oxygen use, waiting time and whether a doctor travels. Always agree the total before the journey. The 108 emergency service is free.
What schemes and insurance cover
Aarogyasri, CGHS, ECHS, EHS and cashless insurance policies treat ambulance charges differently. Some policies pay a limited amount for emergency transport. Check your policy wording and keep every receipt.
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot judge whether a particular patient is fit to travel. Only the team that has examined them can.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about ambulances and patient transport
Is the 108 ambulance really free?
Yes. The 108 service in Telangana is a free government emergency ambulance. It is meant for emergencies, not for planned trips home or routine appointments. Using it for a planned trip can delay help for someone in danger, so book a private or hospital vehicle for those.
Can 108 take us from our village to Hyderabad for a planned operation?
Not usually. It takes emergency patients to a suitable nearby hospital. For a planned admission, travel by car, bus or train if the patient is well enough, or book a private ambulance if the referring doctor says one is needed. Ask your district hospital whether a referral transfer can be arranged.
Can a family member travel in the ambulance?
One relative can usually sit in front or in the back. Space is limited, and the crew may ask you to move if they need to work on the patient. Carry the patient's papers and phone, and let other relatives follow by car.
How soon after surgery can I travel by bus or train?
It depends on the operation, the wound and how you are recovering, so ask your surgeon before you book tickets. Many people manage a train journey sooner than a bus, because they can lie down and walk about. Avoid lifting heavy luggage yourself.
What should we carry in the vehicle?
The discharge summary, a medicine list, the medicines themselves, scans and reports, spare dressings if the nurse gave any, water, a pillow and a phone with the ward number saved. If there is a drain or bag, carry a spare pad and a plastic sheet.
Can I drive myself to follow-up visits?
Not in the early weeks after most operations. Pain, stiffness, strong painkillers and a wound across the tummy or chest slow your reactions and make braking hard. Your surgeon will tell you when it is safe. Check your motor insurance too.
Do we need an ambulance for a transfer to another hospital?
If the patient is in hospital and unwell, yes, and the treating doctor sets the level of support. Ask for a referral letter and a copy of all reports. Call the receiving hospital before leaving so a bed is ready, and do not set off without that confirmation.
Can the helpline help us plan transport from a district?
Yes. Call and tell us where you are travelling from, the operation date and whether the patient can sit up. We will talk through the options, what to ask a provider, and what to carry, so the journey is planned before the discharge day.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Accreditation and empanelment
- NABH
- NABL
- ISO 9001:2015
- ArogyaSri empanelled
- CGHS accepted
- ECHS accepted
- EHS accepted
- Major cashless insurers
Paying for it
Insurance, schemes and payment
What you actually pay usually differs a great deal from the sticker figure.
AarogyasriEmpanelled. Bring the card and a referral where you have one.
CGHS / ECHS / EHSAccepted at CION centres for eligible treatment.
Cashless insuranceMost major insurers are empanelled. Pre-authorisation is handled by our desk.
Self-payItemised estimate given before treatment starts. No EMI scheme exists.
Where to find us
Our centres in and around Hyderabad
Addressed by landmark, because that is how this city navigates. A surgical consultation can be booked at any of these centres through one helpline, and your team will tell you where the operation itself takes place.
Warangal
Vizag
Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Surgery to treat cancer
- NHS — Blood clots
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
- National Cancer Institute — Support for caregivers
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
Planning the Trip Around an Operation DateTravel, stay and timing for families coming from a districtFalling Ill Back Home After DischargeWhat to do when a problem starts far from the surgical centreComplications and Red FlagsThe warning signs after surgery that need urgent careHome Nursing After Surgery in HyderabadHelp at home once the journey is done
Talk to us
Planning the journey to or from surgery?
Tell us where you are travelling from and your operation or discharge date. We will talk through the transport options and what to carry. One helpline serves every CION centre.