Medical Repatriation & Air Ambulance
When someone falls ill or is injured away from home, getting them safely to the right hospital is what matters most. First Response Aviation Group coordinates medical repatriation and air ambulance transfers in the UK, across Europe and worldwide, with one point of contact from the first call to the bedside handover.
We’re available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call our concierge line on 01268 204 607 to talk through the patient’s situation.
Our medical repatriation services
Air ambulance. A dedicated aircraft configured for medical transport, with a medical team chosen for the patient’s needs, for patients who need a stretcher, intensive monitoring or oxygen.
Medevac (aeromedical evacuation). Urgent evacuation of ill or injured people from locations where the care they need isn’t available, including remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Commercial medical escort. A qualified medical escort travels with a stable patient on a scheduled flight, often a more cost-effective option where clinically appropriate.
Bed-to-bed service. Every stage coordinated, from the treating hospital’s ward to the receiving hospital, rehabilitation centre or home, including ground ambulances at both ends.
Organ transfer. Time-critical transport of donor organs and medical teams between hospitals and transplant centres, by air and road, around the clock.
How it works
- Tell us about the patient. Call our 24-hour concierge line or email us with the patient’s location, destination, condition and preferred date.
- Clinical assessment. The medical team reviews the latest medical report and recommends the safest way to travel.
- A clear quotation. We send a written quotation with the itinerary, the medical team and everything that’s included.
- Planning. We confirm fitness to fly, flight permits, ground ambulances and the receiving hospital or care facility.
- The transfer. The medical team cares for the patient throughout, and we keep family members and case managers updated.
- Handover. The patient is handed over to the receiving medical team, with their notes and a full report.
Who we help
- Families arranging a loved one’s return home, or a move closer to family
- Insurers and assistance companies needing a reliable repatriation partner
- Hospitals and case managers arranging transfers between facilities
- Solicitors, brokers and employers acting on a patient’s behalf
We can work directly with the patient’s travel insurer, or provide a quotation for a self-funded transfer if the patient isn’t insured or isn’t covered.
When is medical repatriation needed?
Medical repatriation is the transfer of a patient back to their home country, or to a hospital better suited to their needs. It’s most often needed when someone falls ill or is injured while travelling, working or living abroad, but it can also mean moving a patient between hospitals in the same country, or closer to family for rehabilitation or long-term care.
- A holiday accident or sudden illness abroad, such as a fall, a stroke or a heart attack
- Surgery or treatment overseas, followed by recovery closer to home
- A patient who needs specialist treatment that isn’t available locally
- Moving a patient to a rehabilitation centre, care home or hospice near their family
- Employees or contractors who become unwell while working overseas
Choosing the right type of transport
The safest way to travel depends on the patient’s condition, the distance and how quickly they need to move. The medical team will always recommend what’s clinically appropriate, but as a general guide:
- Air ambulance: for patients who need a stretcher, intensive monitoring, oxygen or critical care, or where speed and flexibility are essential.
- Commercial medical escort: for patients who are stable and able to sit upright for the flight, with a qualified escort providing care throughout.
- Ground ambulance: for shorter journeys, transfers within the UK, and the journeys to and from airports at either end.
- Medevac: for urgent evacuations from locations where the care a patient needs isn’t available.
Working with travel insurers
If the patient has travel insurance, the first step is usually to contact the insurer’s emergency assistance line. Their medical team will review the case and decide whether repatriation is covered, and how. We can work directly with the insurer or their assistance company, sharing the information they need and coordinating the transfer once it’s approved.
If the insurer declines the claim, the policy doesn’t cover repatriation, or the family would like a faster or different arrangement, we can provide a quotation for a self-funded transfer. We’ll always explain the options clearly, so you can make an informed decision.
What affects the cost
Every transfer is different, so we quote each one individually and confirm the price in writing before anything is arranged. The main factors are:
- The distance and route, including any stops needed for fuel
- The type of transport: air ambulance, medical escort or ground ambulance
- The aircraft size, and whether it needs to fly to collect the patient first
- The medical team needed, from a single nurse or paramedic to a doctor and critical care nurse
- Ground ambulances, flight permits, landing fees and ground handling
- How urgent the transfer is, and the time of day it takes place
Information we’ll need
- The patient’s current location and the destination, including hospital names and wards
- The latest medical report from the treating doctor
- The patient’s mobility and any medical support they need, such as oxygen
- Passport details for the patient and anyone travelling with them
- Insurance details, if the patient is insured
- A contact for the treating and receiving medical teams
You don’t need to have everything to hand before you call. We’ll guide you through it, and request any medical reports securely.
Supporting families
A loved one falling ill far from home is frightening, and families often have to make decisions quickly, in unfamiliar surroundings. We’ll explain each option in plain language, keep you updated at every stage, and make sure you know exactly what will happen, and when. Where there’s space and the medical team agrees, a family member can often travel with the patient.
Our partners
Flights are operated by appropriately licensed air ambulance, and ground transfers by licensed ambulance providers. First Response Aviation Group coordinates the whole transfer, so you have one point of contact throughout. The operator’s details are confirmed at the time of booking.
Founded by an RAF veteran, every transfer is planned with the same discipline and attention to detail, and with compassion for the patient and their family at what is often a very difficult time.
Common questions about medical repatriation
How quickly can a medical repatriation be arranged?
It depends on the patient’s condition, the distance, flight permits and aircraft availability. Urgent transfers can often be arranged within a day or two, and we’ll always give you a realistic timescale when we quote.
Will travel insurance cover the cost?
Many travel insurance policies cover medical repatriation when it’s medically necessary, but cover varies. We can work directly with the insurer, or provide a quotation for a self-funded transfer.
Can a family member travel with the patient?
Often, yes. Companions are usually welcome, subject to space on the aircraft and approval by the medical team.
What information do you need for a quotation?
The patient’s current location and destination, their condition and mobility, any oxygen or other medical support they need, and the preferred date. The latest medical report helps us give the most accurate quotation.
Does the patient need to be declared fit to fly?
Yes. The treating doctor and the medical team must agree that the patient is fit to travel, and by which method. For commercial flights, airlines also need to give medical clearance. We help coordinate this with the medical teams involved.
Can you repatriate patients from anywhere in the world?
We coordinate transfers in the UK, across Europe and worldwide, subject to the patient’s condition, flight permits, safety and aircraft availability.
What happens when the patient arrives?
A ground ambulance takes the patient to the receiving hospital or care facility, where the medical team hands over to the receiving clinicians, with the patient’s notes and a full report.
All medical information is treated in strict confidence and handled in line with our privacy policy.
To arrange a transfer or request a quotation, call our 24-hour concierge line on 01268 204 607 or send us a message.
Request a quote
Request a medical transport quote
Tell us about the patient and the journey, and we’ll come back to you with the right options and a clear quotation. For anything urgent, call our 24-hour concierge line on 01268 204 607.