International Mental Health Patient Repatriation & Transport

Home Medical Repatriation International Mental Health Repatriation

SkyCare provides specialist international transport for mental health patients, offering safe and compassionate repatriation from anywhere in the world. Whether you’re a hospital discharge coordinator, mental health clinician, or a family member trying to bring someone home for treatment, our team is available 24/7 to help. We coordinate air ambulance flights, commercial medical escorts, and ground ambulance services as needed, ensuring seamless bed-to-bed care.

Who We Help

We assist a wide range of clients facing the challenge of transporting a psychiatric patient over long distances. This includes:

Hospitals and Clinics: Moving patients between facilities or returning them home.
Mental Health Professionals: Supporting case managers and discharge teams with complex repatriation needs.
Families and Individuals: Helping bring loved ones home for further care.
Assistance and Insurance Providers: Providing clinically-led, safe transport services under strict governance.

Patients may be experiencing acute episodes or have chronic conditions. We tailor each case individually with safety, legality, and compassion at the forefront.

Medical escort assisting a mental health patient through an airport for commercial flight transfer.

SkyCare offers multiple transport options to suit the patient’s condition and travel distance:

Our Transport Options

Fixed-Wing Air Ambulance For severe or time-sensitive cases, we provide a dedicated medical aircraft with an experienced aeromedical team. Our air ambulances are equipped like flying intensive care units, capable of safely transporting patients who may need continuous monitoring or medical intervention during flight. These chartered planes allow privacy and direct routing, often the best choice for long-distance or complex transfers.

Commercial Medical Escort For stable patients who can travel on a normal passenger flight with support, we arrange a medical escort service. In this option, a specially trained mental health nurse or doctor accompanies the patient on a commercial airline, providing care and oversight throughout the journey. We handle all airline medical clearances, coordinate seating arrangements, and carry any necessary medications or equipment. This can be a cost-effective yet safe solution when appropriate for the patient’s condition.

Ground Ambulance Repatriation In some cases, where clinically appropriate and risk is assessed as low, SkyCare offers direct ground repatriation from Europe by ambulance. This is a safe and effective option for certain mental health patients who are stable and do not require air transport. Our specialist ambulances, staffed by experienced mental health-trained personnel, can drive patients back to the UK from neighbouring European countries, offering a calm and controlled environment throughout the journey.

Detailed Risk Assessments Prior to Travel

We carry out detailed risk assessments prior to travel to ensure this method is suitable, and the decision is always made in the best interests of the patient, in line with clinical advice and legal safeguards. For international air transfers, we continue to provide ground ambulance support at both departure and arrival locations, ensuring uninterrupted care between facilities and airports. No matter which transport mode is used, our service is bed-to-bed: we manage every detail from the patient’s current location to their destination. This comprehensive approach includes arranging immigration or customs documentation for medical travel if needed, working with airlines and airports for smooth boarding and arrival, and maintaining continuous medical care throughout the journey.

Legal and Ethical Framework

SkyCare complies fully with UK legislation:

Mental Health Act 1983: When moving patients within the UK, we follow sections such as 2, 3, 4, 17, 135, 136, and 47, where applicable. However, when a patient is sectioned abroad, that legal status typically ends once they leave that jurisdiction. We assist with new assessments or legal frameworks in the UK if required on arrival.
Mental Capacity Act & DoLS: For patients lacking the capacity to consent, we work within the Mental Capacity Act and use the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards when appropriate. Every decision is made in the best interests of the patient.
International Compliance: We coordinate with local medical teams and authorities to ensure lawful travel, respecting the originating country’s legal framework as well as UK standards.

Working With Mental Health Professionals

We work closely with the referring and receiving clinicians to:

Conduct pre-transport risk and capacity assessments
Develop safe travel plans with contingencies for distress
Ensure timely clinical handovers
Provide escorts with relevant clinical history and medication protocols

We also ensure cultural sensitivity and, where possible, provide multilingual escorts or support staff to aid communication and comfort.

SkyCare Repatriation’s UK-based medical coordination team

Why Choose SkyCare

Dedicated Mental Health Expertise: Not just a medical repatriation service, but a team trained specifically in the challenges of mental health travel. We have our very own Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) on staff, whose expertise helps guide and shape every case we handle.
24/7 Availability: Our team is always available to respond to urgent needs.
Calm and Controlled Transfers: We shield patients from stress, maintain their dignity, and reduce anxiety throughout the journey.
Full Legal and Clinical Oversight: We’re a CQC-regulated provider, with policies aligned to UK legislation and best practice.
Bed-to-Bed Coordination: From hospital ward to home or receiving facility, we manage every step.
Fatigue Management: Our crews operate under strict fatigue policies to ensure safe, alert care during transfers.
Respectful and Compassionate Care: We treat every person with empathy, always prioritising their wellbeing and autonomy.

If you need support repatriating someone experiencing a mental health condition, SkyCare is here to guide you through the process with professionalism, understanding and care. Contact our 24/7 team for confidential advice or a quote.

Global mental health patient transport services by SkyCare with air and ground medical teams.

Available 24/7 — Speak with Our Global Medical Transport Team Today

Need to Repatriate a Mental Health Patient?

SkyCare is dedicated to reuniting patients with their families and appropriate care facilities safely, efficiently, and compassionately. If you need to arrange an international transfer for a mental health patient – whether it’s a move from hospital to hospital, or helping a loved one get home for treatment – our team is here to guide you through the process step by step. Contact us anytime (24/7) to discuss your needs or to get a tailored quote. We are here to help make a difficult journey as smooth and secure as possible.

Request Repatriation Quote

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What our clients say.

Rehan

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.

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Paul Trent

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.

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Jane Martin

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.

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Rob Campbell

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.

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Lisa

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.

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Jason and George

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.

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Pete McNair

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)