Broken hip during a holiday in Spain
After a hip fracture, the operation, weight-bearing capacity and pain determine which return journey is possible.
Local situation
Request the operation report, imaging, anticoagulation details, wound care instructions and follow-up instructions.
Transport decision
A slide sheet, stretcher and additional staff may be required; stairs are reported.
Route and assistance
Positioning and transfer frequency are medically determined, not by ticket availability.
Arrival and handover
Assistive devices and rehabilitation in Belgium have been arranged.
Additional point of attention
The next wound or orthopaedic follow-up is already included in the handover.
Required information
Identification, medical summary, current medication and exact addresses remain with the care team. If anything changes, the route is reassessed.
Test the stairs and chair before returning home
Family members measure doorways, the lift and the route to the bedroom or rehabilitation bed. An ordinary passenger car is not suitable when the hip angle, pain or transfer limitations prevent this. The most recent pain medication and anticoagulation are recorded. In the event of redness, fever, increasing wound leakage or sudden shortness of breath, a medical assessment is carried out first and the return journey is not started automatically.