Travelling with a child on ventilatory support: How to plan and avoid potential pitfalls

Travel for families of children with complex medical needs can offer significant benefits for family wellbeing and quality of life, yet it is often perceived as complex and high risk. As the population of technology-dependent children increases, the need to support safe and feasible travel has become more prominent. Families face multiple barriers, including the need to maintain continuity of care, transport essential equipment and medications, navigate variable regulations, and coordinate extensive documentation across healthcare and travel systems. These demands, alongside financial costs and administrative burden, frequently contribute to increased anxiety and risk aversion. Experiential accounts from parents demonstrate that travel for this cohort of children is safe, achievable, and rewarding with comprehensive and anticipatory planning across key domains, including destination selection, accommodation suitability, equipment and oxygen provision, medication and nutrition management, transport arrangements, and emergency preparedness. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in supporting families through pre-travel assessment, documentation, and risk mitigation strategies. With appropriate preparation and multidisciplinary collaboration, travel can be undertaken safely, enabling families to access important psychosocial benefits while minimising potential clinical risks.