How a SOS Med Stays recovery journey works
Four stages, from your first enquiry to flying home. SOS Med Stays manages the accommodation and recovery support around your treatment — your surgeon and Aster Medcity handle the medicine.
Enquire & share your referral
You get in touch with SOS Med Stays and share your orthopaedic referral or consultant letter. We pass it directly to Aster Medcity for clinical review — we don't assess it ourselves, and we're not party to the treatment decision that follows.
Treatment at Aster Medcity, Kochi
Your procedure takes place at Aster Medcity, an independent, JCI/NABH-accredited hospital. You contract directly with Aster Medcity for the surgery itself — consent, clinical planning and aftercare instructions all sit with your surgical team there.
More on Aster Medcity →Recovery at your SOS Med Stays accommodation
Once discharged, you move to accessible SOS Med Stays accommodation a short distance from the hospital. Physiotherapy is arranged as part of your stay, with an optional Ayurveda programme alongside it if you'd like one. Your companion can stay with you throughout.
See the recovery stay in detail →Fly home when your surgeon clears you
When your treating surgeon confirms you're fit to travel, you fly home with a GP handover pack summarising your treatment and recovery, so your own GP or physio can pick up your follow-up care in Ireland.
A note on timing, honestly
We can't promise a fly-home date, because it isn't ours to promise. Fitness to fly is decided by your treating surgeon, based on how your own recovery is going. RCSI guidance suggests 4–6 weeks is typical after a joint replacement before a long-haul flight — but your surgeon's assessment on the day is what matters.
Travelling with a companion
Most people travelling for joint replacement bring someone with them. Up to two companions can travel on an e-Medical Attendant visa alongside the patient, and SOS Med Stays accommodation is built around that — your companion stays in the same room or an adjoining one, not a separate arrangement elsewhere.
Visa requirements and documentation are ultimately between you and the relevant consulate — we can point you to the current process, but we don't handle visa applications on your behalf.
Questions Irish patients ask before travelling
Who provides the medical treatment, and what does SOS Med Stays actually arrange?
All medical treatment is provided by Aster Medcity, an independent JCI- and NABH-accredited hospital in Kochi. SOS Med Stays arranges your accommodation, airport transfers, and recovery-stay logistics around that treatment — we are not a medical provider and don't perform, select, or oversee clinical care. Your treatment contract and payment for care are directly with the hospital.
Do I choose my surgeon or treatment plan through SOS Med Stays, or directly with the hospital?
Directly with Aster Medcity. Your referral, consultation, and treatment plan are agreed between you and the hospital's own clinical team — SOS Med Stays has no role in choosing your surgeon or recommending a course of treatment. If you'd like help understanding what to ask the hospital at this stage, our team can talk you through it.
Can I claim this back under the HSE Cross-Border Directive or Treatment Abroad Scheme?
No. Both schemes only cover treatment within the EU/EEA, so care received in India is not reimbursable under either route. This means you'll be covering the full cost of treatment and travel yourself, and it's worth factoring that into your planning from the outset.
How do I get a quote or have my diagnosis assessed before travelling?
That assessment is done by Aster Medcity directly — you'll typically share your referral letter, scans, or medical history with the hospital so their clinical team can confirm suitability and give you a treatment quote. Once you have that, we can give you a separate quote for accommodation and logistics so you can see the full picture before deciding.
What happens if my recovery takes longer than planned, or there's a medical complication?
Any complication during your recovery is a clinical matter handled by Aster Medcity, who you'll remain in contact with throughout your stay. If your stay needs to extend because recovery is taking longer, we'll work with you to adjust your accommodation accordingly, though we can't predict or guarantee timelines, as these are set by your treating clinicians, not us.
Who do I contact during my stay if something goes wrong — SOS Med Stays or the hospital?
For anything medical — pain, symptoms, concerns about your recovery — contact Aster Medcity directly, as they are responsible for your clinical care. For anything related to your accommodation, transfers, or day-to-day logistics, that's where our team comes in, and we're reachable throughout your stay.
What's included in the accommodation and recovery-stay package, versus what I pay the hospital separately?
Our package covers your accommodation, airport transfers, and recovery-stay logistics in Kochi. Treatment costs — surgery, hospital stay, consultations, medication, and any follow-up care — are billed separately by Aster Medcity and paid directly to them. We'll set out exactly what's included on our side before you book, so there's no ambiguity between the two.
How far in advance do I need to book?
This depends on the hospital's own assessment and scheduling process, since your treatment date is set by Aster Medcity, not by us. Once you have a treatment date from the hospital, we'd recommend getting in touch as early as possible so we can plan your accommodation and transfers around it — our team can talk you through timing and costs before you commit to anything.
Ready to find out more?
Share your referral and we'll pass it directly to Aster Medcity.