UK Equivalent To The Vegas Gathering

[HSM]

Hello, this is directed more to the UK patients but obviously anyone is welcome to respond. I'm just wondering if the patients on this side of the pond fancy creating a gathering too? It wouldn't need to be annual, unless people would want that. I'm just posting this as I've thought about it a few times and would like to get the opinions of all you weirdos on here LOL.

I wouldn't mind going to the Vegas trip, but in my previous unit a friend of mine went to America and said it cost around £160 per session! So it isn't cheap by any stretch on the imagination.

I look forward to your responses and ideas.

[Poppylicious]

But we don't have anywhere as exciting as Vegas to visit!!  We'll be stuck in Scunthorpe or Skegness (apologies to anybody from those places, which are lovely, really) wishing we had the bright lights of Vegas shining down on us.

 

[cassandra]

Excuse me, we could go to the beach, and have a barby, or afternoontea in Southport? But seriously, couldn't we try Blackpool?
It doesn't matter where you are, its the company you're with
       


                       

[Poppylicious]

Um, cassandra ... I was jesting.

 

Blackpool had crossed my mind, but if Hardev was able to pull this off/get enough takers it would probably be best to see where everybody is based before making a decision as to where it happens, which would be dependant on who and when.

Good luck Hardev!

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I'm up for it. Count me in.

[okarol]

  Good idea! Hope it works out!

Hi Ken! 

[HSM]

I wouldn't mind Blackpool, my only concern is if people wanted to use the beach. I saw on t.v the other day that they're considering banning people from entering the water as it has a lot of raw waste ending up in it. Obviously we could still go as there are other things to do there.

The good thing about keeping it in England is nobody would have to pay for dialysis as I've been told it's completely free if someone has a holiday in the U.K or Europe. I wouldn't mind going to America as I once wanted to move there, but I don't fancy paying £160 a pop.

We'll see how many are interested and we'll go from there. Worst case scenario; it doesn't get off the ground. In the best case scenario; our dialysis family meets up and has a great time!

I live in Birmingham, so I don't mind where the venue may be. I don't mind travelling. If anyone can't travel too much, let us know and we'll work around that.

Thanks for the luck Popps! I may need it!

[lainiepop]

I 1ive in Bournemouth we have several award winning beaches with Lovely 'proper' sand  When the tourists have gone & kids back to school it is beautiful (Laughs that hubby is a teacher & I get to take the kids to beach whil e he's at work) 

[lainiepop]

oh & it is a popular holiday destination apparently for dialysis users, we have 2 Centres in the area not sure if they both do holiday dialysis but know for sure bournemouth hospital does which is right by where I live, 10 to 15 mins drive to Sea x

[Poppylicious]

The good thing about keeping it in England is nobody would have to pay for dialysis as I've been told it's completely free if someone has a holiday in the U.K or Europe.

When Blokey was on haemoD we gave up on the idea of travelling within the UK (or anywhere!) because getting haemoD sorted was a nightmare.  It may just have been that we didn't have a lot of patience and gave up too quickly, but they seem to throw all sorts of obstacles in your way.  Of course, England being the teeny country that it is means nobody would have to do copious amounts of travelling (especially if you went for somewhere central to everybody) and dialysis may not need to be organised.

I'm in the East of England, btw.  I don't recommend it much; tis a bit wet (and windy today).

 

[lou]

I would love to come too!  I'm in Exeter but could travel anywhere really. 

[HSM]

Great, let's let the interest generate and then we can start planning a potential location and date etc. Thanks for responding all! I thought maybe I'd end up alone on a secluded beach twiddling my thumbs lol, so I appreciate your interest.

[DJM]

I dialysed in Las Vegas, June 2011. Each session cost $510 = £330

[Poppylicious]

I wouldn't mind going to the Vegas trip, but in my previous unit a friend of mine went to America and said it cost around £160 per session! So it isn't cheap by any stretch on the imagination.

I'm just curious ... Blokey looked it up at one point and thought that although you had to pay it up front if you go abroad (including America), you can claim it back off the NHS.  Have you looked into that? I don't know if you actually can, but it was the impression we got.  Same for cruises, I think.

 

[cassandra]

I think you can claim it back. Might take a while though. But we are staying in England right?

[brenda seal]

Blackpool must be a little like Vagas as far as bright lights go ! I was born in Manchester and came to Australia when I was 12 . When I was a kid I remember my Dad after the electricity bill came , going around the house switching off all the lights and saying " It's like Blackpool bloody illuminations in here ".

[Poppylicious]

I think you can claim it back. Might take a while though. But we are staying in England right?

Oh yes ... I just wondered if Hardev had looked into how and when the NHS pay back any money you spend on dialysis abroad.  I think there's a limit though ... so many sessions a year and after that you can't claim it back.  I think that if Blokey (and I'm hoping that's a MASSIVE if) has to go back on dialysis I'll be a little more proactive in finding these things out.

 

[RichardMEL]

I love this idea folks!!!

Bugger Skegness or Blackpool... heavens people! I vote we go to Cardiff and hang out in front of the place where the "Torchwood" HQ is (er was.. whatever lol) and do it for Cariad's hubby Either that or the scenic wastes of the Wolverhampton Dog track.

But I jest. As an outsider interloper with a soft spot for poms (and you lot wouldn't know what a real beach was if you hit one !!! )  I'd love to join in if I could makre it work as part of a round world trip (I flew through London back in April and yeah.. wouldn't mind another part of the country).

Now about tops n tails at Royal Ascot next weekend as Black Caviar upsets Liz in "her" Diamond Jubilee Stakes? ha ha.

Really I reckon it's a great idea and like I said I would seriously make an effort to show up if I could

[cariad]

Bugger Skegness or Blackpool... heavens people! I vote we go to Cardiff and hang out in front of the place where the "Torchwood" HQ is (er was.. whatever lol) and do it for Cariad's hubby

I second this suggestion! 

Talk of Skegness reminds me of speaking to our British friends about our honeymoon. Gwyn planned the entire thing and I did not even know where we were going until we got to the airport. The Brits would joke that he was taking me to Skegness. When I said that all I knew was that it was a malarial zone and we had to get hepatitis jabs before we went, the Scotsman replied "Yep, definitely Skeggy!"

If we do wind up in Britain and you're still planning on doing this, G and I will try to make it.

[cassandra]

This is starting to sound real exciting. So where do we go?
Lets decide a day: like a Sunday, as In centre D is not on, so they are 'free'

[RichardMEL]

Should have had it at Royal Ascot.....

oh wait, me and a morning suit and top hat? umm no.. not even for the Queen (but maybe for OUR Queen - Black Caviar )

[HSM]

I do apologise for the late response. I've been a little busy with other things, but my organisation skills are definitely going to improve!

Anyway, I was told the NHS don't give any money back if you go abroad. I'll look further into it, but in the years I've been on dialysis, I've never heard of anyone going abroad and getting money back. They always go on about staying in Europe.

What I'll do is start messaging people who have declared an interest and I guess we'll go from there. Any other suggestions or ideas?

[cassandra]

Ahum, the year is nearly over    ,and no date, no place yet      . I don't mind Cardiff, or how about somewhere near Birmingham, as that's geographically sort of the centre of the UK, on a Sunday?

[lou]

Cardiff or birmingham sounds good to me! What dates can people do? Xxx

[HSM]

Well I've been busy working very hard on my forthcoming YouTube channel, what's everyone else's excuse? Lol.

Birmingham is fine with me as I live in Birmingham lol. What would everyone want to do though? I'd be available most Sundays, I just dislike going out in the cold, I get ill too quickly since being on dialysis. Let's keep it indoors, no swimming down canals etc lol.