Cega group, now with almost 400 employees, is in the top league of Air Ambulance, repatriation and medical assistance companies globally, with an impressive client list that includes premier household-name insurers and travel companies such as HSBC, Barclays and Saga which are all underwritten Norwich Union.

Cega Group is a loyal and highly qualified Multilingual workforce of case handlers, medical and flight operations specialists backed by an IT system which is a model for the industry, have built the company's reputation and expanded its scope. A range of insurance and travel related technical services is provided, complementing the medical assistance and repatriation services.

Cega was founded in 1973 when two brothers, Graham and Clive Ponsford, set up an air taxi company. Operations soon changed to meet a growing demand for repatriation of sick and injured holidaymakers and domestic NHS transfers by aircraft. The founders decided to make Cega a dedicated air ambulance service, employing its own flight and medical crews.

In the midst of growth, the company retains its innovative and friendly style, along with the core values it has held throughout its three decades of existence.

Air ambulance service

Cega is the only UK-based Assistance Company owning and operating its own fleet of air ambulances.

The aircraft fleet, comprises 3 pressurised Beech King Air turboprop twins, enabling repatriations and evacuations for 90% of UK travelers. Where medical evacuations are outside the range of Cega’s air ambulances, the company’s “world partners” offer a seamless, safe service from anywhere in the world.

Each air ambulance is equipped for intensive care and able to fly seriously ill stretcher patients accompanied by a Cega doctor and nurse and two highly experienced flight crew. Ground support includes on-line access to databases of medical, aviation and surface transport contacts worldwide with Cega’s Multilingual staff ensuring that language is no barrier to an efficient and safe evacuation.

Where appropriate, Cega will transport patients by scheduled or charter airline, with or without medical escort, ensuring the optimum solution for patient and insurer alike.


Medical escorted repatriation

Medical standards vary enormously around the world: it may be vital to transfer the patient quickly from the country where they are to a more appropriate facility. We will make that decision in conjunction with the treating doctor and keep the patient and concerned relatives informed at all stages.

Cega’s medical team will undertake a full review to ensure a patient’s medical condition will not be compromised through the process of aeromedical evacuation.

Depending on the location, it may be more suitable to transport the patient by scheduled airline. This could be as a “walking”, “stretcher” or “intensive care" patient depending on what is best for the patient. A suitably experienced aviation doctor or nurse from Cega’s medical team can fly out and return with the patient, providing constant medical care and attention throughout the repatriation.

Cega Multilingual staff will arrange all necessary ground transportation including road ambulances ensuring a seamless bed to bed service. In addition, Cega can also arrange flights for family members or friends to accompany the patient.

Lufthansa is the only scheduled airline capable of carrying Intensive Care patients on long haul flights. Cega has as exclusive relationship with Lufthansa to interline at Frankfurt for onward journeys to the United Kingdom.

In the worst scenario, Cega can deal sympathetically and professionally with a death occurring abroad.

Medical assistance

Cega’s 24/7 medical assistance service is first class: experienced linguistic and medical operatives, including a full-time in-house doctor, man Cega’s dedicated phone lines every hour of every day.

From ensuring that the company’s air ambulances carry the appropriate medical equipment (including life support and incubators) to dealing with treating doctors in overseas hospitals and clinics, Cega’s medical teams are at the forefront of providing rapid, effective care.

Ongoing staff training and professional development ensure that medical teams have the most up to date knowledge and equipment at their disposal. In-house multilingual team minimise the risk of language-related errors in diagnosis and care of patients.

Cega offers the following options for the repatriation of sick or injured travellers:

Air ambulance with doctor and/or nurse
Doctor escorted Airline Repatriation
Nurse escorted Airline Repatriation
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Claims handling service

Cega's Claims Handling Service, supported by a major investment in unique information and communications technology, deals with claims promptly and efficiently leaving insurers to focus on core risk management and sales.

Dedicated phone lines and written communication ensure a totally branded response with claims being handled by statement of fact and settlement sums paid directly into customers' bank accounts.

Services are provided on a common database and operations infrastructure bringing significant operating economies within tight cost disciplines. Cega's sophisticated call centre facilities underpin a highly efficient operation with optimum staffing and subsequent high performance.

Call response times, to qualitative measures of customer satisfaction, are monitored and call recordings provide a transparent audit trail for client reviews.

For a cost-effective carefree claims handling service, Cega is the established specialist that can be relied on.

Medical screening

Expert medical screening by Cega's interviewers can help underwriters optimise premiums and reduce claims ratios. The fully branded service includes structured but friendly questioning designed to identify anomalies in the interests of all concerned.

Cega's service meets or exceeds all industry benchmarks with referrals being screened within 2-4 minutes. Call response times are impressive with over 90% of enquiries being attended to within 20 seconds.

Information technology developed in-house at Cega, with the input of 30 years experience, ensures maximum support for interviewers with, for example, individual case histories reviewed on-line during calls.

Questionnaire formats for medical screening operations are constituted by an independent Technical Services Group ensuring full objectivity, however, when required, advice is available in-house from Cega's own medical teams.

Contact Cega Group

Cega Group
Funtington Park
Cheesmans lane
Chichester
West Sussex
PO18 8UE
UK

Telephone: 44 (0) 1243 621 097

If you would like a quotation for an Air Ambulance or Commercial Airline Repatriation please CLICK HERE FOR A QUOTATION FORM or use the link at the top of the page.

E-Mail Medical Assistance: assistance@cegagroup.com
E-Mail Claims: claims@cegagroup.com
E-Mail Aviation Operations: aviation@cegagroup.com
E-Mail General: info@cegagroup.com