Medivac

[FUBAR]

Slightly tenuous link to this forum but just in case.....

OK, PH to the rescue time!

Does anyone know anything about medical repatriation (specifically from the Caribbean)? Yes I know its expensive, but does anyone have recommendations (or even contacts) for what is a specialised area. I've got a couple of numbers from Google but I would rather not use a Cessna flown by a bloke who's done a First Aid course.

Mods apologies for the cross posting

[knk]

International SOS are very good.

https://www.internationalsos.com/en/

[mrmr96]

Do you have insurance? I'd imagine this is the kind of thing they'll sort out.

[Engineer1]

If you have insurance I'd also bet they have an approved supplier list, either for medical standards or to ensure they don't get fleaced

[FUBAR]

Thanks chaps. Long story but fair chance we are going to have to pay for it, but I'm pushing the insurers

[Simpo Two]

FUBAR said:

I would rather not use a Cessna flown by a bloke who's done a First Aid course.

Or conversely a paramedic who's only flown flight sims!

[S3_Graham]

CEGA are based in Bournemouth and run a Learjet 45 in medical config with 2 stretchers. It goes all over the world picking people up. Would it be cheaper to contact an airline rather than renting a jet?

They mostly do insurance stuff but worth a google! Nice team.

Eta: if its just a Jet you want, www.gamaaviation.com

Edited by S3_Graham on Monday 25th November 22:04

[eharding]

FUBAR said:

Slightly tenuous link to this forum but just in case.....

OK, PH to the rescue time!

Does anyone know anything about medical repatriation (specifically from the Caribbean)? Yes I know its expensive, but does anyone have recommendations (or even contacts) for what is a specialised area. I've got a couple of numbers from Google but I would rather not use a Cessna flown by a bloke who's done a First Aid course.

Mods apologies for the cross posting

London Executive Aviation - http://www.flylea.com/private-jet-charter/air-char... - might be an option.

Insurers seem to tend to prefer paying local hospital bills until the patient is well enough travel by scheduled services though - which has implications if you're considering funding this yourself

[Fishtigua]

Most Caribbean Medivacs, if severe, go through Miami or somewhere in Florida. That gets chuffing expensive unless you have very good insurance. Read any small print very carefully.

[Chrisgr31]

Is a flight in scheduled business/first class with medical staff in attendance a possibility?

A neighbour flew back from Australia on a scheduled airline with seats removed and replaced by a stretcher. Probably heleped that he was high up in the travel insurance world though.

[AlexiusG55]

eharding said:

Insurers seem to tend to prefer paying local hospital bills until the patient is well enough travel by scheduled services though - which has implications if you're considering funding this yourself

I think that depends on how long the flight is and how long it will be until the patient can travel.

On the more extreme end of things, a friend of mine did get repatriated by private plane on a stretcher- but that was only from France to Northern Ireland, and because of her injuries (skiing accident) she couldn't sit up for 6 weeks but was fine to go home.

[K50 DEL]

knk said:

International SOS are very good.

https://www.internationalsos.com/en/

This is who we always used from Angola whenever anyone needed medevac - approved by most insurers as well I believe so if you're hoping they'll pay up then you could probably do worse than use them.

[THP150]

If you have spoken to your insurers and they are unwilling to help, maybe ask them to provide details of the providers they use to arrange something to get you home.

[FUBAR]

Thanks chaps. The insurers (NatWest Medical) had two small getouts in their T&Cs (which I pointed out to them) but have been extremely helpful so far and fingers crossed will be funding the repatriation, but until the wheels touch down anything can happen. Waiting for assessment as to when my mum can be put on a plane and get her home. If all else fails I have the info you have kindly provided