Evacuation from exceptionally remote Pitcairn Island
A Pitcairn islander became unwell with a serious illness. To access the level of necessary medical care, he required medical evacuation.
Challenge
Pitcairn is a very isolated Pacific Island with a population of just 34. The island has a basic primary care clinic with a single doctor. Anyone on the island that requires hospital treatment must be evacuated elsewhere. This is a huge challenge - the island has no airport and is very far from the nearest human settlements.
Approach
The Healix team was alerted directly by the island’s doctor that an evacuation would be required. Our medical team discussed the case with the doctor in depth to ensure we had a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s medical condition.
The team agreed the best plan was for the patient be accompanied by a doctor to the island of Mangareva in French Polynesia via the island’s longboat - a journey that typically takes 36 hours. Mangareva doesn’t have a hospital, but it does have a good quality airstrip.
Healix arranged for an air ambulance to pre-position at Mangareva Airport in time to meet the arrival of the Pitcairn longboat. The air ambulance was then able to transfer the patient to Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia - a four-hour flight from Mangareva. Our team organised the ground ambulance transfer from Papeete Airport and pre-arranged the patient’s hospital admission in Papeete.
Outcome
Despite the arduous medical evacuation journey, the patient was successfully treated at the hospital in Papeete and made a good recovery.