Returning Home

Returning home can be a daunting experience when a loved one has been transferred off-Island under emergency or urgent circumstances; this page aims to provide as much information as possible in order to make your and your loved one’s journey back home as comfortable and worry free as possible.

The patient’s discharge procedure will be coordinated by the treating Hospital and the referring Department i.e. Air Ambulance (AA) and all travel requirements will be based on the clinical need of the patient.

Being transferred off-Island via an emergency service does not necessarily mean that transfer home will also be via these services; in most circumstances arrangements will be made for the patient to travel home via scheduled services by air or sea.

If you were authorised as a funded escort to travel to the UK with the patient, your journey home will also be arranged and funded by the Department.

If you are self-funding, you will be required to make your own arrangements to travel back to the Island, however you should speak to the Isle of Man professional arranging the patient’s journey regarding any special rates that may be available to you.

You should also speak to the Isle of Man professional regarding onward travel to your home address, as transport on-Island may only be arranged in a limited number of circumstances.

It should be noted that travel home is arranged in order to ensure the patient returns home in the safest manner. If you have any concerns regarding the journey home, you should contact the Isle of Man professional arranging discharge/travel.

The patient should have received a discharge summary upon leaving the treating Hospital and you should refer to any instructions provided on this summary in regards to patient self-care and/or further treatment once they have returned home. If you or the patient are unsure in any way, you can contact the treating Hospital directly or via the following pathways:

The patient’s local GP surgery
Manx Care Advice & Liaison Service (MCALS)

Telephone: 01624 642642(open 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays and weekends)

Email: mcals@gov.im