Context
Charles Taylor Assistance, which is a provider of global repatriation, medical assistance and travel insurance claims management, reports a growing number of travel insurance customers are setting off abroad with multiple health conditions, which is increasing the demand for and complexity of medical repatriations.
Key points to note and next actions
The demand for medical repatriations has almost doubled in the last year, which has been attributed to more people travelling with undiagnosed medical conditions. The pressure on hospital beds in the UK and mainland Europe is adding to repatriation complexities, with more sick policyholders being discharged from European hospitals for ongoing medical treatment in the UK, as soon as they are stable enough to fly.
Dr Lynn Gordon, chief medical officer at Charles Taylor Assistance, comments: “We’re seeing a sicker demographic of travellers, with more older people travelling, often to destinations with limited medical facilities. The knock-on effect of NHS waiting times means more people are travelling with unstable conditions whilst waiting for health problems to be diagnosed. In this context, it’s more important than ever for repatriation providers to offer joined up medical and logistical expertise to overcome repatriation challenges that can range from managing complex medical conditions in the air, to securing hard-to-find hospital beds in the UK. The right training, staff and equipment enable repatriation risks to be mitigated and every stage of a repatriation prepared for.”