5 Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Repatriation
When a loved one falls ill or has a serious accident abroad, bringing them home can raise lots of challenges. Friends and/or family are often the ones to arrange the medical repatriation. But what are the logistics of transporting a vulnerable patient home? Is it safe? What about medical report, certificates and paperwork? And how much will this all cost? Below we’ve lined up answers to the most frequently asked questions.
How can I bring a patient back home safely after an accident or sudden illness abroad?
At EMS Air Ambulance & Medical Repatriation we provide professional medical repatriation from the patient’s location abroad – wherever in the world they are – to a destination hospital in the patient’s home country. The patient’s situation and condition determine whether it’s best to repatriate them by air ambulance, road ambulance, or on a commercial flight. This will be assessed by our medical team who carry out their own examination of the patient to make sure it’s safe for them to travel.
How does repatriation work?
The main options for medical repatriation are: by long-distance road ambulance, by private air ambulance and in business/first class on a commercial flight with a medical escort. A carefully selected medical team with the right specialisms with come to the patient, bringing all equipment and medication required and care for the patient throughout their journey home. In critical cases, we can construct an ICU environment, both in a road ambulance as well as on an air ambulance, so that patients on life-support can be repatriated safely as well. We offer a bed-to-bed service and will only leave once the patient is settled into their new hospital, all paperwork is exchanged and a successful handover has taken place.
What’s important when considering a medical repatriation?
Qualified medical professionals and proper medical equipment are essential to a successful repatriation. Especially in urgent cases, where patients require careful monitoring, continued treatment during the journey or even intensive care, a trained doctor and a nurse should be present to respond to any changes in the patient’s condition. In situations like these, an air ambulance is the safest and quickest way to bring a patient home, though depending on the distance a medical repatriation by road ambulance can be possible as well.
Who arranges the repatriation process?
EMS Air Ambulance & Medical Repatriation organises the entire repatriation: from taking care of any transport involved – this can include ground ambulances to or from the airport or ferries – assembling the right medical team, liaising with hospitals on both ends, the repatriation itself, and all the medical paperwork. Medical emergencies abroad can be traumatic for everyone involved. We aim to take as much of the stress off of your shoulders by taking care of all the practicalities surrounding the repatriation.
How much will the repatriation cost?
Because the cost of a repatriation depends on many factors such as distance, type of transport required, the patient’s condition etc, it’s best to get in touch with us and request a free quote, so you know exactly what to expect. Many repatriation services will only work with insurance companies. EMS Air Ambulance & Medical Repatriation is not like that. Even if your insurer won’t cover the costs, do get in touch with us! Experience has taught us that there’s almost always a solution.
Contact us
For further information or additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone at +44 20 3514 6797, by email via info@ems-ambulance.com or simply on our online chat function that runs 24/7 to answer any questions.