Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about air ambulance services, medical escorts, and repatriation support — all in one place.
We understand that arranging a medical repatriation can feel overwhelming — especially during a medical crisis abroad. Below you’ll find answers to the most common questions about our services, including air ambulances, medical escorts, repatriation logistics, and what to expect from SkyCare.
Medical repatriation is the process of returning people to their home country following injury or illness abroad. They can be repatriated to a residential address or taken to a pre-arranged hospital or care facility appropriate for their individual on-going care needs.
Patients can be repatriated by air or road depending on their medical need, and their budget.
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.
- Specialist treatment needs: The patient may require specialist 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 for the patient.
- 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. Repatriation may be necessary to access 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 to repatriate.
Whatever the reason, SkyCare Repatriation can assist in returning your loved one back home.
For high-net-worth individuals requiring urgent or planned medical care in London, our dedicated air ambulance service offers an uncompromising, bed-to-bed solution. Operated by SkyCare’s own fleet and elite medical team, we provide direct, private air transfers into London — typically landing at Biggin Hill for seamless onward transport by road or helicopter. Every mission is managed with discretion, clinical excellence, and full medical oversight, from hospital bedside abroad to private hospital admission in the UK. This is not commercial repatriation — it’s bespoke critical care transport for individuals who expect and require the highest level of service.
Once a patient is deemed fit to travel 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 for critical, non-critical and even infectious patients. We provide 3 levels of assistance tailored to meet the patient’s individual care needs.
- 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.
The cost of repatriation is dependent on a number of variables:
- The patient’s condition and the grade of medical staff required to deliver optimum care.
- The distance between their current location and the repatriation destination.
- Whether repatriation is by road or air.
- Whether repatriation is by private charter or on a commercial flight with medical escort service.
- The distance to/from the airport, if traveling by air.
- What specialist equipment and interventions are required.
Our expert team will ensure all repatriations are managed in the most cost-effective way without compromising patient care.
For further information or complete this simple for a quick quotation and we’ll get back to you asap.
Our repatriation services may be covered by your insurance policy. In the first instance we recommend that you contact your travel insurance company with your enquiry and come back to us should you need any further information.
If they are unable to cover the cost of your repatriation we will be happy to work with you to provide a cost effective solution.
Yes, SkyCare carry out repatriation services for privately funded individuals requiring any level of care. Although air repatriation is our recommended travel option as it enables rapid transfer to ongoing care in the patient’s home country, we understand that not all budgets can stretch that far. Our land ambulance repatriation services offer the same exceptional standards of care, provided by the same experienced healthcare professionals, at a much lower cost than air repatriation.
for more information on how SkyCare Repatriation can help you bring your loved one back home.
SkyCare Repatriation offer medical repatriation services between the UK and Europe. The map below highlights the range of our Pilatus PC-12 NGX medical aircraft on a single fuel load. We are, however, able to extend our range further into Europe with a refuelling stop en route.
The countries we most frequently repatriate patients from include:
The UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Croatia, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Slovakia, Malta, Czech Republic, Latvia and Latvia.
SkyCare offers a range of repatriation services from Europe.
By Air
SkyCare can repatriate by air offering a full bed-to-bed service from the patient’s current location to a residential address or care facility in their home country. Patients can be repatriated on a private SkyCare Repatriation charter flight with one of our experienced crews or with assistance of a medical escort on a commercial flight.
By Road
SkyCare can repatriate by road in one of our specially equipped repatriation ambulances. We can provide a full bed-to-bed service and continuation of care with the support of an experience repatriation medical team.
Medical Escort
Our medical escort services are available for a wider range of countries. Please for full details.
The process:
- It starts with your initial call/contact with our friendly team for information, advice, and support.
- They will discuss the patient’s condition, their specific care need and advise you of the services SkyCare can offer to facilitate the patient’s safe repatriation.
- You complete our . Then, once we have received all the required information, we will be able to provide you with a quote for the repatriation services required (commercial customers are requested to email repatriation requests in their standard format).
- Once the quotation is agreed, our team will begin planning of every aspect of the journey.
- We will consult with the patient’s medical team to establish their individual needs and when they will be fit to travel.
- 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 on our way!
- Before starting the journey home our medical team will conduct an assessment of the patient to ensure they are still fit to travel.
- Our operations team will monitor travel 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.
SkyCare Repatriation can offer a complete bed-to-bed service.
Overseas, our local ambulance partners will assist with your transfer to the airport to connect with your private charter, or commercial flight home.
In the UK transport to/from your chosen airport will be provided, where possible, by our own fleet of over 60 ambulance vehicles. Alternatively, we will arrange your transfer to/from the airport with one of our trusted UK ambulance partners.
Once a patient is cleared as fit to travel, SkyCare can assist in returning patient’s to their home country.
We provide repatriation services to critical non-critical patients, infectious patients, dementia patients, adult and paediatric patients. Whatever the patient’s needs, whether medical, social, emotional or purely for comfort, Skycare Repatriation can help.
Contact us for further information.
In most circumstances it is usually possible for one, possibly two, people to accompany the patient during the repatriation. This is assessed on an individual basis depending on the patient’s medical condition and the equipment required for their repatriation, the final decision resting with our medical advisors.
Space is limited on board our aircraft and road ambulances. We will endeavour to return all your luggage with you, however, we can arrange to courier any items we are unable to accommodate on board.
SkyCare Repatriation provides a seamless continuation of care throughout the repatriation process. We offer 3 levels of assistance that are tailored to provide maximum comfort and support the patient’s individual medical, social and emotional needs. Each tier is determined by the patient’s medical condition, care needs, and the duration of the flight. The SkyCare Repatriation medical team is carefully selected to provide the best possible care, matching their skills and experience to the patient’s needs.
You can trust us to deliver assistance that ensures peace of mind for both the patient and their loved ones.
Find our more about our levels of care or contact us for more information.
SkyCare Repatriation take pride in our exceptional standards of care and exceptional customer care.
Each medical team will be selected from our staff of highly trained healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care, matching their skills and expertise to the individual patient’s needs.
Yes you can track G-MEDY by clicking the link.
Our Service Coverage
Sky Care is able to repatriate to the following countries & territories.
Feedback
What our clients say.
Commercial Medical Escort from Boston, MA to London
SkyCare made a complex overseas transfer from Boston to London feel effortless. Craig and Sarah were outstanding — calm, professional, and always in touch. They handled everything, from visas to flight logistics, with genuine care and attention. The costs were very reasonable, but it was their empathy and support for both patient and family that made all the difference. I can’t recommend them enough.
Vietnam to London — Medical Repatriation by SkyCare.
Fantastic professional company. We couldn’t have done this without them. My friend suffered a stroke and was paralysed on the right side. Due to a technicality, his insurance wouldn’t cover repatriation, so we had to go private. If anyone is ever in the same position, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend SkyCare. They made a stressful situation feel manageable, and I’m so grateful for their calm, capable support throughout.
France to UK — Ski Injury Repatriation by SkyCare.
Fantastic service. I was repatriated from France after a skiing accident with multiple injuries. We contacted Craig at 4am and by 10pm I was home — ground ambulance, air ambulance, and ground ambulance again. Everything went smoothly with incredible medical care and kindness. After two miserable weeks in hospital, I finally felt safe and supported. I cannot thank SkyCare enough and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.
Vietnam to London — Stroke Repatriation by SkyCare.
Amazing team of people. My brother had a stroke in Vietnam and the insurance company were useless. SkyCare guided me through the process, sorted everything out, and got him safely home. The whole team were fantastic, but special thanks to the medical crew — Adam and Sarah — who flew out and did an incredible job. I can’t recommend SkyCare enough for their calm, professional help in such a difficult time.
UK to Malaysia — Long-Haul Medical Repatriation by SkyCare.
If you’re in the UK looking for a repatriation company, I couldn’t recommend SkyCare enough. They arranged medical transport for my dad from London to Kuala Lumpur — a 12-hour flight. From my first message, they responded quickly and handled all documents and approvals efficiently. Huge thanks to Craig for making everything smooth and to Nurse Nav for caring for my dad the whole way home.
Spain to UK — Stroke Repatriation by SkyCare.
SkyCare were brilliant with us, helping to bring my dad home to England after he suffered a stroke in Spain. From the moment we reached out to the day of the repatriation itself, the entire team showed professionalism, compassion, and expertise. We felt fully supported and reassured throughout the process. Thank you to everyone involved — I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend SkyCare to anyone in a similar situation.
Las Palmas to UK — Air Ambulance Repatriation by SkyCare.
Thank you to Craig and Ben for organising our return home from Las Palmas. My dad was extremely anxious about the process, but everything ran so smoothly at every stage. Mum is now safe in Maidstone Hospital, and she’s just happy to be somewhere she can easily communicate. The whole experience was calm, compassionate, and professional — we really appreciate everything SkyCare did to make it seamless.
— Pete McNair (via email)
Accreditations
British Business & General Aviation Association
European Business Aviation Association
Pilatus Fleet
AOC (Air operator certificate) #2480
National Business Aviation Association
