Dialysis and Travel support pages - Dialysis Konnections and our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide
Kidney failure can make travel difficult, but it is not impossible
If you are thinking about travel, it is important to first speak to your health care team about the effect this might have on your health.
If you are well enough, a holiday can be a big boost to your confidence and wellbeing. You may be able to attend work and social events, or enjoy a great holiday, with careful planning.
Unfortunately, even if you are medically able to travel, it is often difficult (but not impossible) to find a renal unit that takes casual clients in Australia and overseas, as the number of people with kidney failure is growing at 6% per year, there is increasing demand for haemodialysis chairs. Renal unit staff support kidney patients whenever possible, but sometimes they do not have any spare places. Private renal units may charge a fee for each treatment.
 Dialysis Konnections - Australian Dialysis Chair Exchange Program
(facilitated by Kidney Health Australia)
The Dialysis Konnections Register (click link to find out more) can help you if you are a dialysis patient who may wish to consider registering for our new pilot program, which helps dialysis patients wanting to travel within Australia, to connect with others privately to arrange a 'dialysis chair swap'. Your renal staff must agree to this chair swap. The steps required to connect are simple and easy to follow:
STEP 1 - REGISTER Send us your Letter of Registration signed by your nephrologist and dialysis unit staff which confirms your health is stable and you can travel. (You may be asked to complete a more detailed request from the Dialysis Unit). Use our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide to find detailed location information for all Australian renal and dialysis units.
STEP 2 - ADVERTISE When we receive your signed registration letter, which should include details of your travel wish, we simply register your area of dialysis in the Dialysis Konnections Register (see below). Your Renal Unit and the exact location are not identified - only areas and regions are noted. You can request a couple of locations, but can only accept one 'konnection' at a time.
STEP 3 - RECOGNITION Another haemodialysis patient wishing to travel (who must also be registered under the same criteria) sees your travel wish details and location on the Register.
STEP 4 - CONTACT They then make contact with KHA (phone1800 4 543 639 - ask for Teresa or email info@kidney.org.au) noting your registration name and requesting a 'Konnection', to enable you to talk about a particular dialysis chair swap for an agreed time period. KHA will then arrange a private exchange of additional contact information.
STEP 5 - EXCHANGE You contact your possible dialysis chair swap partner to refine your plans, dates etc. and then talk to your individual dialysis unit contact, to confirm and complete the arrangements.
To register - send your Letter of Registration with details of your travel wish:
Teresa Taylor - Dialysis Konnections
Kidney Health Australia
GPO Box 9993, Adelaide SA 5001
If any steps seem unclear, contact Teresa by phone 08 8334 7509 or email to info@kidney.org.au
Disclaimer: Kidney Health Australia undertakes no responsibility for cancelled holiday exchanges or unusual circumstances that evolve around this arrangement. Kidney Health Australia has no responsibility for any financial loss incurred by any cancelled or delayed dialysis exchange. All Kidney Health Australia will do is to facilitate a safe exchange of contact details between registered AHD Konnectees. The remaining arrangements are up to you.
Making travel arrangements in Australia – A few tips to make your travel successful
Your renal unit staff should help you organise short or long term dialysis at another centre in Australia. Do not attempt to do this yourself without talking with them, or asking for their help. Read about short term Renal Unit visits. It is important to plan travel well ahead of time. Decide the times/days you want to dialyse. Most units run on tight schedules so you may need to be flexible with dates. Let the renal nurse helping your know if you cannot dialyse on some days. Refer travel tips for people with kidney failure for advice on how to arrange dialysis when travelling in Australia or overseas.
DUG Questions to ask before a short stay Renal Unit visit.
- Ask your health care team where renal units are located - refer to our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide (DUG online).
- A special transfer form with detailed personal treatment references (ask your renal unit) will be sent in advance to your destination unit and you should carry copies with you at all times.
- Ensure you ask your renal staff to confirm the arrangements a few weeks before you start travel.
- Phone the renal unit you will be visiting as soon as you arrive at your destination to introduce yourself, and confirm appointment times. You may want to arrange a renal unit visit when you arrive at your destination, before dialysis and meet the staff to feel more comfortable.
- If travelling in an emergency, dialysis details can be faxed ahead by your renal unit staff to a renal unit which will accept your request.
- When on holiday, it is important your health care team can contact you, especially if you are on the transplant waiting list. So ensure you give them a copy of your detailed travel itinerary and advise them of any changes that you make.
Free Travel, Super and Insurance Advice Service for people with kidney disease or chronic conditions
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers - 1800 810 812. Also refer Insurance and Super webpage this site, for a general guide to legal, superannuation and financial issues. It should not substitute for professional advice in these areas. Kidney Health Australia acknowledges the valuable contribution of John Berrill, from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, in the development of this information.
 Can I go on holiday overseas whilst on dialysis?
Kidney failure can make travelling overseas difficult but not impossible with careful planning.
Obtaining haemodialysis in other countries is possible, but be aware standards of care may not be the same in all countries and could be quite different to Australian standards. See some travel options in our list of weblinks below. Many international holiday dialysis centres specialise in this field - they will charge for their services.
Travel on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) overseas is simpler but will also require careful planning. Dialysis supplies in most cases can be delivered to your holiday destination. Your Renal Unit staff will help you make arrangements re delivery of your dialysis supplies and can arrange for back-up medical care, in case of ill health whilst travelling.
Travel when waiting for a Kidney Transplant is possible. Consult your doctor and talk to your Transplant Coordinator about your travel plans as they can help you to decide whether you will be able to return in time if a kidney becomes available.
Important points to note re travel and medical supplies:
- Take enough medication with you for the whole trip, with some extra in case of lost luggage or a spillage. You can also arrange for supplies to be delivered ahead of time to your destinations, but if pre-ordering, ensure supplies have arrived at your destination before starting out. You will need to find out from your Doctor if you may need a different type of drug or prescription in other countries.
- Bags can go astray when you travel - they may arrive on the next flight. But to be safe, always pack all medications in your carry-on bag - never in your checked luggage.
- Ensure you arrange a clean space to do exchanges and store supplies.
- Airplanes don't have refrigerators, so if you have a drug must be kept cold, ask your pharmacist how to package it for travel.
- If you bring syringes, you must also bring along the drug you inject, like insulin or EPO. That drug must have a professionally printed label that clearly identifies what it is. There is no limit to how many empty syringes you can bring as long as you also have the drug with you.
- Keep a letter from your doctor summarising your current health, recent lab results and medications your are taking and why with you at all times. You may need to provide this to Customs authorities when entering countries overseas.
Travel tips to make your overseas travel successful
People with kidney disease can get travel insurance – although the terms and travel conditions vary. See Travel insurance for people with kidney disease (KHA Fact Sheet).
- Find out about medical costs in advance - see Australia's Reciprocal Health Care Agreements through Medicare - New Zealand, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Belgium, Malta, Norway - all cover medically necessary treatment you require which may arise while in that country. Note: Reciprocal Health Care Agreements can not replace the need for private travel health insurance. Refer Medicare - Travelling Overseas
- Ask your health care team for contact details of doctors or hospitals you can refer to and use - in case of an emergency.
- Register with Smart Traveller - Australian Government travel advisory and consular assistance.
- When you make your travel plans, call and ask if the airline has a Disability or Special Assistance Coordinator. This person can help you work through the airlines' systems.
- If you need extra assistance boarding a plane or train, inform personnel when you check in so they can give you special instructions.
- When making a hotel reservation online or by phone, remember to request a first-floor room or a handicapped-accessible room, if stairs or distances are a problem.
- If you use a travel agent, tell the agent about any special needs you may have, such as special meals, accessible rooms, and assistance while changing planes. The agent can also advise you about special considerations regarding safe transport of dialysis supplies while travelling to foreign countries.
- If you travel by plane or train, make arrangements for any special meals such as low-salt, low-fat or diabetic, at the time you make your reservations.
- If diabetic, carry glucose tablets and appropriate snacks, such as low-potassium juice boxes to treat low blood sugar. It's a good idea to travel with lunch or a packaged nutritional supplement in case of delays.
- Managing your diabetes can be made simpler by having insulin, syringes and blood glucose monitoring supplies handy.
Travel and Dialysis in Australia and Overseas
Australian Holiday Dialysis
General advice for Australians travelling on dialysis
International travel and global relocation information
- American Society of Nephrology
- Asia Pacific Nephrocare
- Dalysis Abroad Australian company - international escorted tours providing quality dialysis for clients
- Dialysis at Sea Fancy a family cruise to faraway places
- Eurodial
- eNeph List of International Dialysis Units
- Fresenius Medical Care: Travelling and Dialysis
- Global Dialysis See detailed list of dialysis units, by country region - consider these options as well
- Caribbean - Island Dialysis provide dialysis in Barbados, St. Lucia and Puerto Rico
* Caribbean Dialysis Inc - Barbados * St Lucia Dialysis
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Canada - Travelling Dialysis RV Association Rent an RV with a Formula Belco 2000 dialysis machine and WRO95 water purification system. Patient must be trained with this type of unit.
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Fiji, Suva - Colonial War Memorial Hospital (no Sundays) note CWM Hospital on east coast of island, apprx 200kms from most west coast holiday destinations. Treatment $500 Fijian (apprx AU$300) call Debra +679 310 0020 or fijidialysiscentre@gmail.com
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Holiday Dialysis: Dr Berger Travel service for dialysing patients - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece-Crete, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Poland
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Kidney Foundations around the globe
International Kidney Patient Associations
Updated 31 August 2010
Disclaimer: This is intended as a general introduction to this topic and is not meant to substitute for your doctor's or health professional's advice. All care is taken to ensure the information is relevant and applicable to each Australian state. It should be noted Kidney Health Australia recognises each person's experience is individual and variations do occur in treatment and management due to personal circumstances. Should you require further info always consult your doctor or health professional.
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