All UK residents have a right to timely access to NHS facilities, including those who become ill whilst abroad.
The repatriation of all patients to the hospital that serves their home residence should be expected to occur within the timeframe of internal repatriations within that ODN (normally 48 hours).
Critical care units across the world differ significantly in the resources and care available and, in many instances, may not able to deliver care of a standard that would be acceptable in UK critical care units.
Where patients are receiving care that may be expected to be limited all efforts must be made to repatriate the patient immediately.
All requests for repatriation must involve discussion with the critical care consultant in the receiving hospital, in line with the guidelines for that ODN.
