Repatriation/Articles

Repatriation from Canary Islands

Repatriation from the Canary Islands requires a careful assessment of medical condition, distance, discharge from hospital, mode of transport, travel time and arrival care.

Repatriation from the Canary Islands

The archipelago lies far from mainland Europe; flying is usually the central link.

Local starting situation

Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and other islands have their own airports and routes.

Transport decision

An inter-island flight or ferry may be additionally required and is medically assessed.

Route and assistance

Oxygen, medication, battery and positioning are provided with reserves for the long cabin journey.

Arrival and handover

The onward ambulance in Europe continues to the Belgian healthcare facility.

Additional point of attention

Family members arrange the hotel and luggage without delaying the medical transfer.

Required information

Identification, medical summary, current medication and exact addresses remain with the care team. If anything changes, the route is reassessed.

Frequently asked questions

Often yes, but the form of transport depends on medical stability, distance, documents, route and available guidance. Sometimes a patient can travel with a medical escort on a scheduled flight, while in other cases stretcher transport, ambulance or an air ambulance is required.

Usually diagnosis, medical report, medication, mobility, oxygen requirements, infection status, pain level and destination are needed. Airline medical clearance and fit-to-fly information can also be important during a flight.

Sometimes yes. This depends on the chosen form of transport, medical occupancy, airline rules, available places and the condition of the patient. If family cannot travel, communication can be clearly coordinated along the way.

Air ambulance is mainly considered in case of instability, ventilation, intensive monitoring, high oxygen shortage or when a commercial flight is not medically justified. In stable patients, it is first examined whether a less intensive solution is safe.

This could be at home, but also a hospital, rehabilitation center, residential care institution or other care location. The destination is coordinated in advance so that the transfer takes place safely upon arrival.

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