Flying someone back with a broken spine?

[MadMullah]

How would you arrange to have someone back in the UK who's broken a few bones in his spine?

would you be able to arrange it via standard airlines or would it have to be a more private plane arrangement?

[speedster986]

There are so many factors at play. Spinal fractures can be stable or unstable and related to other injuries. The length of flight maybe an issue for pain management. Google medical repatriation companies for some ideas. They use scheduled flights or chartered planes depending on severity. Another factor is if the patient needs to be accompanied and if so by what sort of chaperone e.g. Paramedic, nurse or doctor.

[davepoth]

MadMullah said:

How would you arrange to have someone back in the UK who's broken a few bones in his spine?

would you be able to arrange it via standard airlines or would it have to be a more private plane arrangement?

1. Ask if they got travel insurance.

2. If not, tell their next of kin that they need to remortgage their house.

[Victor McDade]

Find your (or the patients) nearest spinal unit and give them a ring - I'm sure they'd be happy to offer advice.

Here is a directory of the UK's Spinal Injuries Units.

http://www.apparelyzed.com/spinalunits.html

In fact it doesn't even have to be your local unit.

The spinal unit at Stoke Mandeville Hospital is the oldest in the UK and has a great reputation. They also take private patients from overseas so one would assume know quite a bit about travel arrangements for patients.

You can find their contact details here:

http://www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/NSIC%20Home/spin...

[Wheelrepairit]

I've broken my back and damaged my spine, and spent almost 4 months flat on my back, no pillows, nothing.

The day I was moved from intensive care in Cambridge to the spinal unit in Sheffield was the most painful, scary, horrific day of my life.

I'd have said a private air ambulance was the only option.

[Aizle]

MadMullah said:

How would you arrange to have someone back in the UK who's broken a few bones in his spine?

would you be able to arrange it via standard airlines or would it have to be a more private plane arrangement?

Where flying from?

Travel insurance is the way to go.

[Badvok]

What country is said person in? Would land travel by conventional ambulance be an option?

[davepoth]

custodian said:

davepoth said:

1. Ask if they got travel insurance.

2. If not, tell their next of kin that they need to remortgage their house.

That in the true spirit of PH is both callous and stupid.

Hope to God that you are never in a similar position and need to ask for help.

I despair at some of the morons on PH

It's neither callous, or stupid. It's the state of affairs. If the injured person has travel insurance, it will cover it. That's what health insurance is for.

If there is no health insurance, medical evacuation by plane with the appropriate level of care, in a private jet, is going to cost tens of thousands of pounds. Very few people have that kind of money to hand, and the only asset they do tend to have of that value is their house.

[spikeyhead]

A friend of mine evacuated their sister with a broken skull from Nigeria by buying a couple of first class seats, one for the sister and one for a Doc. I'd wager that a big passenger jet would be far less bumpy than any feasible private air ambulance.

[Aizle]

custodian said:

That in the true spirit of PH is both callous and stupid.

Hope to God that you are never in a similar position and need to ask for help.

I despair at some of the morons on PH

Would you like a hand down off that high horse of yours?

[Aizle]

custodian said:

Which subspecies do you belong to?

How on earth do you think the suggestion helped the OP who is clearly trying to deal with a very difficult situation.

Sub species? Wind it in.

How do you know that the OP is currently dealing with this situation? What definitively says so?

And, I think quite rightly, davepoth explained the 2 options available, in his opinion.

Now, do you want a hand down or are you staying up there forever?

[anonymous-user]

custodian said:

davepoth said:

1. Ask if they got travel insurance.

2. If not, tell their next of kin that they need to remortgage their house.

That in the true spirit of PH is both callous and stupid.

Hope to God that you are never in a similar position and need to ask for help.

I despair at some of the morons on PH

Stop being a throbber. If you'd been here for any length of time you'd know this place is full of people willing to put themselves out to help others. If you weren't so busy picking arguments on every thread you'd notice numerous examples of PHers offering free advice and their time for little reward.

Thats the true spirit of PH.

[Du1point8]

I would be seeing what travel insurance they have, or seeing if they have loyal credit card that has travel insurance.

Even if it were Europe I would still look at paying for either first class and hiring doctor or seeing how much it is like this company:

http://www.flymenow.co.uk/charter-services/airambu...

(dont know if they are any good)

A flight from hamburg to london asap as the only passenger on a cheap plane is £5400 so you can imagine how much to assist injured person will be.

[Aizle]

Ironic post of the year goes to......

I'm bored of feeding the troll.

OP, if indeed you are in trouble, travel insurance is the way to go.

If not then play a sympathy card with an airline/private charter company and see what they can do at near to cost as possible. Try "empty leg" flights too.

[magpie215]

http://www.airmed.co.uk/sample-prices

[MadMullah]

thanks for the information.

Its not something immediate for me - its for my sisters father in law - he's fallen off the roof after getting dizzy with low blood pressure in Pakistan and been given this diagnosis.

my brother in law is there now thinking what next to do - he's not too keen on having him operated there and wanted to bring him back.

they've spoken to PIAirlines they said they will let a stretcher on board but then would it be the safest option?

i doubt he's taken travel insurance so this is all out of the pocket

[WhereamI]

custodian said:

el stovey said:

Stop being a throbber. If you'd been here for any length of time you'd know this place is full of people willing to put themselves out to help others. If you weren't so busy picking arguments on every thread you'd notice numerous examples of PHers offering free advice and their time for little reward.

Thats the true spirit of PH.

Totally agree there are many, many good folks on here. That makes pricks like those two stand out even more

Perhaps you need reread what they posted because you seem to have read into their comments things that perhaps they didn't actually say.

[Aizle]

I've seen someone buy a bunch of seats in economy and have them sprawled out across the top of them all.

With the new flat beds in business class I wonder if BA or similar would allow someone to be laid flat for the entire flight?

[davepoth]

custodian said:

davepoth said:

It's neither callous, or stupid. It's the state of affairs. If the injured person has travel insurance, it will cover it. That's what health insurance is for.

If there is no health insurance, medical evacuation by plane with the appropriate level of care, in a private jet, is going to cost tens of thousands of pounds. Very few people have that kind of money to hand, and the only asset they do tend to have of that value is their house.

You are an idiot and a moron.

How do you think your suggestion actually helps the OP dealing with a very difficult situation!

Your comments reflect the lowlife mentality of some folks on PH

And all you've done in this thread is insult people. I'm not going to carry on arguing with you since you are beneath me, but if you could shut the fk up for the benefit of everyone else, especially the OP, it would be appreciated.

[andym1603]

Have had an experience with G-BGRE operated by
MARTIN-BAKER (ENGINEERING) LTD
THE AIRFIELD
CHALGROVE
OXFORD
OX44 7RJ
This was a flight from Tunis to Inverness.
I don't know if they deal with the general public or only with insurance companies. No idea of cost but it was the best service I had for the £38.00 I spent on travel insurance.