I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Traveling Tips and Stories => Topic started by: Sugarlump on September 14, 2010, 09:39:31 AM
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Hi anyone got advice about navigating the red tape the dialysis unit in France keeps throwing up.
I only want 2 sessions late October whilst I visit my daughter in Clermont-ferand but what a headache.
They just keep asking for more and more information and demanding special letters from Newcastle confirming
EHIC entitlement to dialysis???I have EHIC card and really don't want to have to pay bill upfront.
When I went to Italy it was a piece of cake and no bills but the french are being sooo difficult!
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Sugarlump does your health trust have a holiday dialysis co-ordinator? You need someone with direct access to your medical records so all inquiries from the dialyisis centre are dealt with promptly and that's what happens in my unit all thanks to the holiday co-ordinator.
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You live in England, the same as me, have you contacted the hospital dialysis unite co-ordinator, they should do all this for you. People go to Spain all over Europe and have no trouble.
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Cutbacks cutbacks we have NO holiday co-ordinator have to do all the arrangements ourselves.
Unit not very supportive of our holidays.
To me its important to get away at least once a year to retain the feeling of still being human!!!
as well as dialysis patient!
If I can't get something sorted I'm going to lose the cost of my eurostar tickets.
Andd the french are on strike again tomorrow!!!
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Sugar, is there a Kidney Assocation you could contact???...
I know that the Irish Kidney Assoc. has a designated person who arranges dialysis all over the world..... Could be worth checking out...
If push comes to shove, send a grovelling email to the French Embassy... I'd say that they'll help....
Hope you get it sorted out.....
Love...
Darth...
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Hey finally managed to get dialysis confirmed for my French vacation to visit my daughter, due to leave Thursday (21st) but what a time to be travelling to France, particularly Paris with all the strikes, train delays and riots!!! going by eurostar, have to cross Paris by metro (scary) and then train out to Clermont-ferrand. Only 1 in 3 trains running today. Don't want to cancel as would lose cost of tickets and it took me THREE MONTHS to organise dialysis!!! but find it all a bit overwhelming, specially as woman travelling alone. All a bit daunting. Wish me luck!
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All the very best of luck, Sugar..... Have a lovely holiday!....
Get in touch with the French Embassy in your contry... Tell them of your concerns, and ask for an emergency phone number (just in case!)... In the event of there being probs. travelling due to the strike, I'm sure that they'll look after you....
I know that during bad weather here, Gardai and Defence Forces looked after dialysis patients... I'm sure it'll be fine!....
Have a great trip!.....
Darth...
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:bump;
updates?
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:bump;
updates?
She only left 2 days ago. *L* I'm sure she'll update us when she gets home
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Had a wonderful time in France with my daughter lots of travel headaches with the strikes but made it there and back. Dialysis, after all the paperwork and red tape problems was fine. Very nice unit halfway up mountain in Clermont-ferrand. No english spoken so good job my daughter bilingual but very clean, high infection control standards etc no problems. It is so good to get away when you're on dialysis even for a few days...
its worth the hassle! I managed to climb to the top of puy-de-dome mountain on day after dialysis 1450m snowing at the top, hard work, completely out of puff due to altitude etc but exhilerating!
My motto for 2010 : GO FOR IT!
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:2thumbsup; Sounds great!
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Often wonder these days if I'll ever be fit enough to climb that mountain again ???
But I AM managing walking the dog about 2 miles a day with this kidney at a push!
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I have no trouble dialyzing in France. I have a website with all my information, including my prescriptions, labs, doctors orders and comments, Ekgs, EHIC cards, etc. I just give them a password for the site.
Works as well for other countries too.