Help needed! Medical Extraction from Spain to UK.
Discussion
Hi All
I'm calling out to the wide net of backgrounds here in te hope someone can help.
My dad is in Hospital in Hurcal Overa, nr. Almeria, and is on 24hr oxygen. We had hoped last week that we could fly him home and booked flights for tomorrow. Alas he wasn't on 24hr oxygen then and now they say he cannot fly.
They cannot give us portable oxygen, even if they could it only lasts 3hrs.
My parents have sold tier house and have been staying in a friends bedsit and the hospital could potentially disharge him shortly and give him oxygen support at home.
Ideally we want him back in the UK, anyone got any recommended contacts for medical extraction / air ambulance that is vaguely affordable?!!
Thanks
Sarah
P.S he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in May and was due to start treatment July 14th but due to dehydration etc has been in hospital since then so situation is critical.
I'm calling out to the wide net of backgrounds here in te hope someone can help.
My dad is in Hospital in Hurcal Overa, nr. Almeria, and is on 24hr oxygen. We had hoped last week that we could fly him home and booked flights for tomorrow. Alas he wasn't on 24hr oxygen then and now they say he cannot fly.
They cannot give us portable oxygen, even if they could it only lasts 3hrs.
My parents have sold tier house and have been staying in a friends bedsit and the hospital could potentially disharge him shortly and give him oxygen support at home.
Ideally we want him back in the UK, anyone got any recommended contacts for medical extraction / air ambulance that is vaguely affordable?!!
Thanks
Sarah
P.S he was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus in May and was due to start treatment July 14th but due to dehydration etc has been in hospital since then so situation is critical.
I have previously worked for a medical repatriation company: CEGA www.cegagroup.com
They handled mainly insurance repatriations and I never undertook a private repatriation, so you'd have to ring them to find out.
They handled mainly insurance repatriations and I never undertook a private repatriation, so you'd have to ring them to find out.
ERS Medical are another company that do this Link, not a recommendation just a link, I have no knowledge of them.
What I do know is that there are portable oxygen systems that can be taken on a flight, it's not clear whether he can walk and sit on a plan and just needs the oxygen or whether he needs a stretcher etc. If the former then it should be possible on a commercial airliner. Do be careful that it's an approved system though.
What I do know is that there are portable oxygen systems that can be taken on a flight, it's not clear whether he can walk and sit on a plan and just needs the oxygen or whether he needs a stretcher etc. If the former then it should be possible on a commercial airliner. Do be careful that it's an approved system though.
The problem with an oxygen requirement is that it means a pressurised aircraft is a very very dangerous place for the patient.
We all tolerate the pressurisation of the cabin during flight but its effect is the same as if we were up a mountain at around 8000 ft. There is noticeably less oxygen in each inspired breath. I'm talking about commercial passenger airliners here.
Someone needing supplemental oxygen at sea level ( the airport or hospital) is going to be really in trouble in a lower oxygen environment.
A careful evaluation must be made before permitting the O2 dependent passenger onboard, particularly a frail one. That said it is not impossible, but needs lots of careful planning.
The alternatives are low level flight in a light aircraft, or ground transportation. Light aircraft can't do this trip in one go.
This is bread and butter for a repatriation company, although you can't negotiate with the physics of it.
We all tolerate the pressurisation of the cabin during flight but its effect is the same as if we were up a mountain at around 8000 ft. There is noticeably less oxygen in each inspired breath. I'm talking about commercial passenger airliners here.
Someone needing supplemental oxygen at sea level ( the airport or hospital) is going to be really in trouble in a lower oxygen environment.
A careful evaluation must be made before permitting the O2 dependent passenger onboard, particularly a frail one. That said it is not impossible, but needs lots of careful planning.
The alternatives are low level flight in a light aircraft, or ground transportation. Light aircraft can't do this trip in one go.
This is bread and butter for a repatriation company, although you can't negotiate with the physics of it.
Edited by The_Doc on Wednesday 13th August 22:03
I'm really sorry to hear how poorly your Dad is Sarah.
Have you also contacted St. John's Ambulance?
I used them to transport my Mum when she broke her ankle abroad. The medical insurance company were prepared to fund picking her up and Heathrow and dropping her at the nearest hospital, I wanted her home in the Midlands at a specialist Orthopaedic hospital. St. John's were willing to oblige and were fantastic. She was greeted by the ambulance team straight off the 'plane and the ambulance even did a diversion to drop my Dad off at Stanstead to pick up their car.
Cost was around £300.
If there's anything I can do to help drop me a text/call.
Ann
Have you also contacted St. John's Ambulance?
I used them to transport my Mum when she broke her ankle abroad. The medical insurance company were prepared to fund picking her up and Heathrow and dropping her at the nearest hospital, I wanted her home in the Midlands at a specialist Orthopaedic hospital. St. John's were willing to oblige and were fantastic. She was greeted by the ambulance team straight off the 'plane and the ambulance even did a diversion to drop my Dad off at Stanstead to pick up their car.
Cost was around £300.
If there's anything I can do to help drop me a text/call.
Ann
It might take a lot of time, but would ground transportation in a decent vehicle work? You could rent a Mercedes Vito or something nice, stop over at a decent hotel for a couple of nights. If medical support is required then I doubt it would be a problem to get somebody to attend and pop them on a plane home.
We looked at ground options, he really needed to get home quickly due to his condition.
He passed away last night, in no pain, his heart wasn't strong enough and his pressure was so low, that and he was struggling to breathe.
Of course I was having dinner/outside talking to my other half at the time...
Due to Spanish holiday today we won't be able to do anything until Monday. Looks like mum and I will be returning Wednesday which is good as I have been missing my 2yr old son, even if he's not missed me as he's had fun with daddy!
Thanks for all your support guys, it's the first time I've needed it and you're great as always.
He passed away last night, in no pain, his heart wasn't strong enough and his pressure was so low, that and he was struggling to breathe.
Of course I was having dinner/outside talking to my other half at the time...
Due to Spanish holiday today we won't be able to do anything until Monday. Looks like mum and I will be returning Wednesday which is good as I have been missing my 2yr old son, even if he's not missed me as he's had fun with daddy!
Thanks for all your support guys, it's the first time I've needed it and you're great as always.
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