Repatriation doctor - all you need to know

As part of a portfolio career spanning 20 years, Dr Ellen Welch worked part-time as a repatriation doctor, helping patients who have become sick or injured abroad. She tells us what the job entails

How do I get into the role (including necessary qualifications)?

You need to have broad experience in general practice and emergency medicine. Most repatriation companies require doctors to be currently practising in the NHS to ensure ongoing and up-to-date experience. The role I did was accompanying travellers who had almost fully recovered home on commercial flights. There is also a role for acute teams to repatriate unstable patients on fully equipped air ambulances via companies such as REVA.

How much does it pay?

The company I worked for paid is by the hour, starting from when you leave the house until you return home again. It works out roughly at £20 per hour. Although this sounds very little, you are paid for the entire trip – even when you are not with the patient – and expenses are covered as well.

How much time do I need to devote to it?

You are called to go on retrieval and repatriation jobs on an ad-hoc basis, so it’s very flexible and can fit nicely around other work.

What’s good about the job?

The role and work are flexible, and you can work around your NHS or other jobs. It provides opportunities to travel on a short-term basis, while you assist patients to get home safely.

What’s bad about the job?

The drawback is that you could not do this job on its own; patients are often stable and therefore require little medical intervention, so you would de-skill quickly if you relied solely on this work.

Useful links:

Advice from the MDDUS

Helping patients return home safely is vital work. Depending on the setting and your responsibilities, indemnity may be required — speak to us early for guidance.

Click here to see all the other portfolio careers in this series