Bed-to-bed transfer: from one hospital bed to the next, end to end

The links in the chain

1. Acceptance: the receiving hospital confirms it has a bed and accepts the patient. Without this, the transfer does not start.
2. Discharge: the sending hospital prepares the discharge papers, the medical report and the medication for the journey.
3. Ground ambulance, departure side: the patient is collected on the ward, not at the hospital entrance.
4. Airport: the medical team stays with the patient through check-in, security and boarding.
5. Flight: by air ambulance, stretcher on a scheduled flight, or seat with escort, as the doctors decide.
6. Ground ambulance, arrival side: waiting at the destination airport.
7. Handover: on the receiving ward, from clinician to clinician.

The handover

The handover is the moment the receiving team takes over responsibility. The escorting doctor or nurse briefs the receiving clinicians on the journey and the current condition, and passes on the medical report, the medication given during the transfer and any imaging or test results provided by the sending hospital. Where possible, the treating doctors also speak directly before departure, so the receiving team knows what to expect.

Documents that travel with the patient

• passport or ID;
• medical report or discharge summary, in English or the receiving hospital's language where possible;
• medication list and recent test results;
• copies of imaging if the sending hospital provides them;
• the airline's medical form if a scheduled flight is used;
• insurance details and case number, if insured.

What the family does, and what we do

The family gives consent, provides passport details and, if possible, names the preferred receiving hospital or home address. We handle the rest: medical information, acceptance, ground ambulances at both ends, the flight, and timing. One coordinator keeps the family, both hospitals and any insurer informed. You receive a written quote before anything is booked.

Bed-to-bed or bed-to-home?

Not every patient needs a hospital bed on arrival. If the doctors agree the patient can recover at home, the chain ends at the front door instead of a ward, with any care needed on arrival discussed in advance. The rest of the chain stays the same.

Why families and insurers contact us

• Available 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp
• Worldwide: transfers between any two countries, coordinated from our Antalya base
• We work only with licensed operators. We coordinate and do not own aircraft.
• One coordinator for each case, from first contact to handover
• Written quote before booking
• We work under insurers' guarantees of payment and send case reports to insurers and assistance companies
• Direct contact in English, Dutch, German, Turkish and Russian

Frequently asked questions

What does bed-to-bed transfer mean?

The patient is accompanied continuously from the bed in the sending hospital to the bed in the receiving hospital, including ground ambulances at both ends, the flight and the handover.

Does the receiving hospital have to agree first?

Yes. The receiving hospital must confirm it accepts the patient before the transfer starts.

What happens at the handover?

The escorting doctor or nurse briefs the receiving clinicians and passes on the medical report, the medication given during the journey and any test results or imaging provided.

Is a bed-to-bed transfer always by air ambulance?

No. The flight can be an air ambulance, a stretcher on a scheduled flight or a seat with a medical escort, depending on what the doctors consider safe.

Can the transfer end at home instead of a hospital?

Yes, if the doctors agree. The chain then ends at the home address, with care on arrival discussed in advance.

How much does a bed-to-bed transfer cost?

There is no fixed price. It depends on the distance, the type of flight and the medical team. You receive a written quote before anything is booked.