NEWS

A British tourist travelling in Kazakhstan has become the first customer of MAPFRE ASSITANCE’S new emergency air ambulance repatriation service after going into labour prematurely at 29 weeks.

The business partnership between leading insurer MAPFRE ASSISTANCE and Oxford-based AirMed, the largest UK-based fixed-wing air ambulance company, centres on the provision of a fast-response air ambulance service from mainly European and near-Asia destinations back to the UK.

Once notified of the emergency in Kazakhstan, MAPFRE ASSISTANCE and AirMed worked together quickly and comprehensively to plan the mission. After close consultation with the treating physician, a combined neonatal and obstetric senior specialist led team was dispatched to Almaty on board one of AirMed’s Learjet35As. All eventualities had been planned for, including the possibility of having to deliver the baby in flight and subsequent on-going care needs.

The Learjet 35A was equipped with double stretchers, including BabyPod, which enabled carriage of both mother and baby post-delivery. After the patient was assessed on arrival in Almaty, it was agreed that the best course of action was to deliver the baby on site prior to the air ambulance flight home due to the mother developing an acute sepsis. With close co-operation from the treating facility, 3lbs baby was delivered successfully.

Julie Smith, Head of Claims and Assistance for MAPFRE ASSISTANCE Travel Division, said: "This case shows MAPFRE ASSISTANCE’s new air ambulance facility is improving the quality of services we provide for our customers.

“By showing that quality travel insurance and exemplary service can help in the most extreme cases we hope that customers can see the value of the services we can offer.”

We are delighted that the business relationship with AirMed is becoming a strong success and very proud of the help we have managed to offer when it was needed most.This event solidifies our commitment to helping every one of our customers in any way we possibly can.