My baby was born prematurely overseas

We would love to hear from you! Please call Charlotte on 0300 140 9980. If you would prefer to contact us by email, please message charlotte@lias-wings.org.uk.

We can fly babies as young as 23 weeks gestation up to 18 years old.

You must be medically fit to fly. For mothers who have recently given birth, you need to be well enough to carry your own bag and walk on and off the aircraft without help. You can bring a small cabin bag with you, which must follow the same rules as a normal flight – no lighters or fuel, no loose batteries and no sharp objects. You will need a valid passport, or a form of photographic national ID such as a driving license. We encourage you to take photos and videos to help remember the day.

Our planes have just enough space for our equipment, the medical team, your child and one parent to fly. We try our best to ensure there is space for at least one parent to fly with the child but this isn’t always possible if your child requires extra medical staff or equipment. If there is enough space for a parent to fly, we will let you know.

In England, there is no NHS service commissioned to provide flights for children yet often the only way babies and critically ill children can access specialist treatment and care is by aeroplane ambulance transfer. Lia's Wings is the only Charity in the UK that flies children to hospital by aeroplane. We work with air ambulance providers and NHS transport teams throughout the UK by providing funding and equipment to make these flights happen. Our flight teams are made up of NHS staff or medical staff from our aviation partners depending on availability of staff. Our aviation partners are registered and inspected by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) and must follow all UK laws and regulations just like hospitals.

Your child will be monitored by a specialist team that includes a consultant or similar specialist neonatal/paediatric doctor or advanced nurse practitioner, a neonatal/paediatric nurse, and sometimes a paramedic. The team can provide a full range of emergency treatments if necessary. The team carries a ventilator, resuscitation equipment and emergency drugs. However, we hope to never use these – every flight is planned carefully to avoid any emergency treatment becoming necessary. If your child becomes unwell in the hours before a flight, your nurses and doctors will speak to us to decide whether it is safe to go ahead. Minor changes in your child’s condition will not normally mean the flight needs to be cancelled.

Of course! We want you to be as comfortable as possible with the experience, so please reach out to Charlotte from our team who would be happy to chat to you more about the transfer. Her contact details are: telephone 0300 140 9980 and charlotte@lias-wings.org.uk (charlotte@lias-wings.org.uk) Please also let our flight team know about your concerns on the day of the transfer. They will be able to give you extra support and reassurance throughout the transfer. They will also prepare you for any unfamiliar sounds or movements whilst in the aircraft. Our flight teams are very friendly and will be happy to answer any questions you have.

We are always amazed at the kindness of the families we transfer. Any funds you donate or raise for Lia's Wings will help another family in a similar position to you. Here are a few ways you can support us: Share your story – this is one of the most valuable ways you can support Lia's Wings. By sharing your story, you can help us fundraise for more children’s flights and it will also help inspire and reassure other parents in a similar situation to you. Please email hello@lias-wings.org.uk if you would like to share your story. Help us shout about what we do – we are a small charity and not many people have heard about is. Please share our posts on social media and share your experiences with friends and family. Make a one-off donation or give a regular gift to Lia's Wings – Click here (lias-wings.org.uk/donate)to make a one-off donationor give a regular gift. Take part in an event – Click here (https://www.lias-wings.org.uk/events/)to see a full list of events. Host your own fundraiser – Our families have hosted music gigs, dinners, family fun days and raffles (to name a few) for our Charity. We really appreciate any support you can give our charity. Nominate Lia's Wings for your work’s Charity of the Year – if you would like more information on how to go about this, email hello@lias-wings.org.uk.