What is Air Repatriation?
So what is air repatriation? Medical air repatriation is the process of returning people to their home country following injury or illness abroad. This may be to receive specialist treatment unavailable in their current location, for rehabilitation, to be closer to loved ones or to simply overcome medical terminology language barriers. Once a patient is deemed fit-to-fly they can be repatriated by air or road depending on their medical need, and their budget.
How does repatriation work?
Medical repatriation may be necessary for a number of reasons, including:
- Unavailability of adequate medical care: The patient’s current location may lack the necessary medical facilities, equipment, or expertise to treat their condition effectively.
- Specialised treatment needs: The patient may require specialised medical treatment or procedures that are only available in their home country or another specific location.
- Quality of care concerns: Concerns about the quality or safety of the medical care available in the current location may prompt medical repatriation.
- Lack of insurance coverage: The patient’s insurance cover may only extend to medical care received in their home country or a specific network of healthcare providers. Repatriation would be necessary to access a greater range of medical services.
- Family and social support: Repatriation may be desired to allow the patient to receive medical care closer to family and friends who can provide emotional support during their illness or recovery.
- Cultural and language barriers: Language barriers or cultural differences in healthcare practices may hinder effective communication or treatment. In these circumstances, repatriation to a familiar healthcare system would be beneficial.
- Travel risks: The patient’s medical condition may make independent travel unwise. They may require specialised medical transportation, such as an air ambulance, for safe repatriation.
- End-of-life care preferences: Patients may express a desire to receive end-of-life care in their home country or a preferred location, necessitating repatriation for palliative or hospice care.
- Legal or administrative considerations: Legal or administrative factors, such as visa restrictions or regulatory requirements, may necessitate repatriation for rehabilitation or ongoing medical treatment.
- Financial considerations: Cost concerns, such as the high expense of medical care in the current location or the availability of more affordable treatment options elsewhere, may drive the decision for repatriation.
Whatever your reason, SkyCare Repatriation can assist in returning your loved one back home.
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Once a patient is deemed fit-to-fly SkyCare can provide a range of repatriation services to facilitate their safe return home. Services are available separately or can be provided in any combination to deliver optimum patient care.
Our services include:
- Repatriation by private air transfer.
- Repatriation on a scheduled flight with the assistance of a medical escort.
- Airside collection from flights returning to the UK with onward transfer to pre-arranged care facilities.
- Repatriation in one of our specially designed and equipped road ambulances.
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The process:
- Call our friendly team for information, advice, and support.
- We will discuss the patient’s condition, their specific care needs, and the services SkyCare can offer to facilitate their safe repatriation.
- Complete our Quotation Form. Then, once we have received all the required information, we will be able to provide you with a quote for our repatriation services (commercial customers are requested to email repatriation requests in their standard format).
- Once the quotation is agreed, payment will be required and then our team will begin the detailed planning of every aspect of the journey.
- We will consult with the patient’s medical team to establish their individual requirements, ensuring provision of optimal care during the repatriation.
- The operations team will make all the necessary arrangements for a smooth and effortless journey.
- A flight plan will be submitted, and our aeroplane and crews will be made ready.
- One final check on the all the details and we are off!
- Our medical team will conduct an assessment of the patient to ensure they are fit to travel .
- Our operations team monitor progress in real time. They will update patients’ relatives and communicate information to the liaising road ambulance crews and the receiving care facility.
- After the repatriation we will follow up with our crews, patients, and their families to gain feedback from everyone involved to inform and improve our future practice.
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