Travel for UK patients

[JW77]

Having travelled about a fair bit from the UK, I've always booked via Freedom, the dialysis travel specialists..

They are an accredited travel agent, and have over 30 years of organising dialysis away from the UK, including group trips and destinations in Europe and the USA..

http://www.holidaydialysis.co.uk/

Although it is possible to book flights, accommodation and insurance separately, freedom checks out dialysis units before going there with group trips, so you have an extra element of safety.

They've also partnered with the UK charity, the British Kidney Patients Association to create a UK dialysis swap system. 
Its still taking off but needs more units in the UK to be involved.

http://www.dialysisfreedom.co.uk/

Just thought I'd share this useful titbit. And remember treatment is reciprocal in the EU, so you don't have to pay for dialysis in most units.

[iolaire]

Having travelled about a fair bit from the UK, I've always booked via Freedom, the dialysis travel specialists..

Do you plan your own trips and pay the £60 administration charge, or do you go on group trips with them?

What are your top destinations so far on dialysis?

[JW77]

I'm not sure what you mean by administration charge?

Freedoms group and individual holiday bookings are as the price given, usually with a deposit like any other travel agent, including flights, accommodation and transfers.  Travel insurance must be booked separately although basic health insurance is covered by the EHIC. 
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

I've been to Rhodes twice once with the group, the second time with my girlfriend, Crete with the group trip, I've also booked via them to travel to Spain with my now ex partner, and Hamburg for a conference.

Obviously outside the EU one must pay for dialysis per session.

Their UK service offers arrangement of bookings for free if you live in the UK, to UK destinations. (they just sort out the paperwork, faxing etc). Which I've used to dialysise in Manchester (I live in London.

[iolaire]

I'm not sure what you mean by administration charge?

Its mentioned on the page Arranging Your Dialysis
http://www.holidaydialysis.co.uk/Arranging-Your-Dialysis.html

So its sounds like you use them for all the travel details. I'd guess in that case the fee is bundled in the price or included as a service to go with the complete travel arrangements (which is a revenue source for them).

re:

Their UK service offers arrangement of bookings for free if you live in the UK, to UK destinations.

Again did you buy a hotel or something through them or do they really do the coordination for free?

Just wondering how it works.  So far I've done all the out of US coordination myself along with all my travel, air, hotel, transport etc...  My center will coordinate US centers for me. But I could see the advantage of using a service when I'm unable to contact a foreign local center.

[JW77]

Sorry, I didn't see the reply to the post earlier.

You can choose a hotel, and book separately (abroad), OR for the group trips they use selected, and tested hotels and dialysis unit.

UK residents do not have to pay for dialysis in other UK Units and Freedom arrange this in the UK as a charity funded service. You pay for accommodation of course, but I've mostly used them to arrange dialysis in the UK for staying at friends or family.

For their trips outside the UK, they are a specialised travel agent, under the same regulations as any other, and yes, they make a profit. But they don't have a lot of high street branches, so very competitive, and especially for first time dialysers who might be nervous about going abroad or arranging travel on their own they make arranging a holiday a lot easier.