Nephrocare - HD patients

Travelling for HD patients

Our NephroCare clinic in Antalya offers a pool for the patients

Let the travel bug bite you!

Do you enjoy travelling? Do you like to explore foreign countries or get to know your home country better? Don’t let dialysis stop you! You have a broad range of destinations to choose from and still keep your dialysis schedule on track. Here are some tips to ease the way.

Whether you want to travel abroad or within your own country, you can choose any of our dialysis centres around the world and continue to enjoy an active life. Selecting a dialysis centre in the NephroCare network enables you to get the same services you’re used to at home as all centres offer the same quality level. The NephroCare Holiday Dialysis coordination team will assist you in the communication with your holiday dialysis centre, so you can concentrate on your holiday and enjoy yourself!

Travel safely by planning ahead

As the Indian statesman Nehru once said, “we live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” Keeping your eyes open for the wonders and adventures along your travel route is much easier when you don’t have to worry about receiving your dialysis treatment on time. This requires some advance preparation and organisation, meaning that starting early is probably a good idea.

The more time you allow for planning your journey, the smoother and more relaxed things are likely to be. We recommend booking a holiday in the vicinity of a NephroCare centre to ensure that you won’t need to make a long journey every other day to a dialysis centre for treatment. Moreover, you’ll have peace of mind about the standard of care you’ll receive. Rest assured that all the dialysis centres in the NephroCare network are equipped to a comparable standard and offer the same levels of quality. Visit the country specials section on our website for detailed country information, such as the must-see places and insider tips. There, you will also find a map of the world with little flags pointing to all the 970 locations where you can find a NephroCare centre. Start planning your trip by placing your finger on the map and let the feeling of wanderlust guide you.

Have you decided on a destination? Whether you want to visit new places or just relax in the sun, the medical team at your vacation centre will need a set of your personal, medical and dialysis-specific records. The complete list of required documents will be provided by the holiday dialysis coordinator, as there are specific requirements in every country and sometimes the centres have their own specifications. We suggest waiting for a pre-confirmation from the receiving unit before booking a hotel or accommodation. Consider that you alone are responsible for booking your holiday, including transport and accommodations. Some, but not all, of our centres offer a transfer service between hotels in the region and the dialysis centre. Enquire about this before commencing your trip. You can also contact your hotel to inquire if they offer a transfer service.

Formalities

Once you’ve decided to take off and know where you would like to travel, talk to your NephroCare team. They will help you in coordinating your holiday dialysis and help you with the formalities.
Wherever you choose to visit, your treatment must be covered by your medical insurance provider. If you’re staying in your own country, this is simply a question of completing the necessary forms, so you’ll have nothing to worry about. The NephroCare team at your centre will be happy to advise you.

If you’re travelling further abroad, you’ll need to check with your healthcare service or medical insurance about the specific payment and reimbursement situation for the country you want to visit.

Before you go, inform yourself about payment for holiday dialysis. After Brexit, the U.K introduced it's own version of the EHIC card, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This card functions similarly to its predeccessor, allowing Brits access to state healthcare during visits to the EU. If the NephroCare Centre at your holiday destination accepts GHIC cards, they can invoice your insurance company directly. Otherwise, you may need to settle the bill up front on site and submit the paperwork to your insurance company to be reimbursed. Call your insurance company for details.

Some words need to be said about packing. Depending on the weather at your chosen destination, you may want to remember layers when packing weather-appropriate clothing. Apart from your passport, be especially careful of your medication and the medical records you need to present for your first holiday treatment. Put them in your hand luggage and always carry them with you.

With the formalities out of the way, there’s nothing to stop you. Get away and enjoy yourself!

If you want to make sure that your potential travel destination has a NephroCare centre close by have a look at our dialysis centres:

Find a Fresenius Medical Care dialysis centre in your vicinity

Let´s go!

When you have choosen your holiday destination talk to our Holiday Dialysis team to coordinate your dialysis treatment during your vacation.
Check with your healthcare service or medical insurer about reimbursement.
Contact us early so, we have enough time to support you in the coordination process.
Relax – you’re in good hands!