This may be one of the options for a friend should they need to return to the UK.  I'd much prefer some recommendations from people on here who have had experience with this. 

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. I rarely use the forum, but I know the knowledge is extensive.

12 minutes ago, jimrod said:

This may be one of the options for a friend should they need to return to the UK.  I'd much prefer some recommendations from people on here who have had experience with this. 

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. I rarely use the forum, but I know the knowledge is extensive.

A bit more information would be a good idea

1 minute ago, steve187 said:

A bit more information would be a good idea

Thanks for the reply, Steve.
I believe if someone is unable to travel alone, there are services (medical staff) who can take him to his destination.  I'm sure that this type of service has been used before by expats needing assistance to get home. If so, it's better to get first-hand feedback on the service provided. I did google it, and it's though to know which ones are reputable. 

Removed all caps from title.

Op, please don't post all caps.  See "Standards of Conduct" in the forum rules.
"5. Do not post text with all capital letters..."
 

Post moved to Health and Medicine sub-forum. Op, you may get better information over in the Health and Medicine forum.  Best of luck!

 

Thanks!  
Base32

May I suggest you contact the experts in UK.

 

The UK government does not pay for repatriation services for individuals, but the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) can provide advice and assistance through local British embassies or consulates abroad. Repatriation costs must typically be covered by private funds, often through travel insurance or by the family.  (Google AI)

 

Medical repatriation companies in the UK - GOV.UK

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/medical-repatriation-companies-in-the-uk

 

There are several companies that do this but it is expensive. You can google for ones based in Thailand.  

 

If modification to the aircraft needed (for example to accomodate a stretcher and possibly medical equipment), even more costly.

 

And special evacuation flight --  very, very expensive indeed. About 50k £ or more.

 

In my years on this board I do not recall anyone ending up using a company for this due to the high cost, excepting those with insurance (in which case the insurer usually arranges).   Most people DIY it.  There was a thread in the past year about a UK man with dementia. Ultimately the friend went ahead and accompanied him. Hiring a local person  to do so is complicated by visa considerations.

 

First step is to get a "Fit to Fly" certificate from the hospital. This will spell out requirements e.g. accompaniment (travel alone, travel with escort, or require medical staff to accompany etc); special seating requirements; oxygen/other medical equipment etc etc.  Most private hospitals have internationsl depts which will facilitate this.

 

Second step once requirements are known is to contact the airlines.  

 

If medical personnel must accompany, this will be hard to arrange on one's  own. Start by asking the hospital but might have to use a company.  Given what it will cost, usually better to pay for care in Thailand at least initially until more stable and needing less intensive  assistance. 

 

Best thing is to have, in advance,  an insurance policy that covers this. 

 

2 hours ago, Base32 said:

Removed all caps from title.

Op, please don't post all caps.  See "Standards of Conduct" in the forum rules.
"5. Do not post text with all capital letters..."
 

Post moved to Health and Medicine sub-forum. Op, you may get better information over in the Health and Medicine forum.  Best of luck!

 

Thanks!  
Base32

93 posts in around 20 years is my only excuse. Sorry, and thanks for rectifying both issues.

10 hours ago, Sheryl said:

There are several companies that do this but it is expensive. You can google for ones based in Thailand.  

 

If modification to the aircraft needed (for example to accomodate a stretcher and possibly medical equipment), even more costly.

 

And special evacuation flight --  very, very expensive indeed. About 50k £ or more.

 

In my years on this board I do not recall anyone ending up using a company for this due to the high cost, excepting those with insurance (in which case the insurer usually arranges).   Most people DIY it.  There was a thread in the past year about a UK man with dementia. Ultimately the friend went ahead and accompanied him. Hiring a local person  to do so is complicated by visa considerations.

 

First step is to get a "Fit to Fly" certificate from the hospital. This will spell out requirements e.g. accompaniment (travel alone, travel with escort, or require medical staff to accompany etc); special seating requirements; oxygen/other medical equipment etc etc.  Most private hospitals have internationsl depts which will facilitate this.

 

Second step once requirements are known is to contact the airlines.  

 

If medical personnel must accompany, this will be hard to arrange on one's  own. Start by asking the hospital but might have to use a company.  Given what it will cost, usually better to pay for care in Thailand at least initially until more stable and needing less intensive  assistance. 

 

Best thing is to have, in advance,  an insurance policy that covers this. 

 

Very good summary.

 

50k for a medevac to the UK is unrealistic, though. Make that 100k.

 

"Fit to Fly": many doctors will write whatever you want.  It's better to find a doctor who takes this serious, it's not just a formality.  The aviation doctors of BPH, for example, are usually good.

 

Airlines: some are very strict (Lufthansa), some can be flexible (Turkish). 

Why only consider flying, one can book cabins on cargo ships from Thailand to the UK.

I can share the following personal experience,  but this wasn't yesterday nor was it a 12 hour flight.

 

I once required to board a flight on a stretcher, I think it was 9x economy seats that I had to pay for, the stretcher fitted onto a frame that was fixed over those folded down seats, I couldn't fly without a nurse, and although a very nice nurse had volunteered to come with me, but the matron in the hospital  said a big No! So a friend who had been in that area attending at the same event as I was, volunteered to assist me traveling.

He sat in the back of the ambulance to the airport which i think was a three hour drive, and then on the aeroplane he sat in one of those remaining seats of the nine and would have to be the nurse, say if I needed a pee, my flight wasn't too long maybe a couple of hours, so I didnt drink anything and so I guess not so difficult to act as the nurse. I remember when I arrived from the hospital to the airport, the BA lady coming into the back of the ambulance (long low version more like an estate car with a higher roof) and she was crouched over me holding the clipboard for me to sign the credit card form, that was back when there were three copies each with a piece of carbon copy between them. I was loaded onto the aeroplane via a back door, but not the one that the passengers come in, but I'm pretty vague on exactly how it was done. I do remember that there was a curtain rigged around me, which was to be open for take-off and landing,  I opted for leaving it open throughout the flight.  I recall it took a long time to get unloaded once back in the UK, as no local hospital had been notified in advance, that i was coming into that airport so there wasn't anyone waiting my arrival, but eventually it all came together and I was taken off the plane, i recall there was a major amount of dismantling going on to allow the stretcher I was on to come off, once done i was then taken away by an ambulance to whichever hospital covered that area. 

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why only consider flying, one can book cabins on cargo ships from Thailand to the UK.

 

Indeed one can. 
 

 

5 hours ago, soalbundy said:

Why only consider flying, one can book cabins on cargo ships from Thailand to the UK.

Not very advisable in someone so medically unstable as to require a medically trained attendant.