Dialysis and Travel support page - Dialysis Konnections
Kidney failure can make travel difficult, but it is not impossible
You may be able to attend work and social events, or enjoy a great holiday, with careful planning. If you are thinking about travelling, 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. Find out more about short term Renal Unit visits.
Unfortunately, even if you are medically able to travel, it is often difficult to find a renal unit that takes casual clients in Australia and overseas. The number of people with kidney failure is growing at 6% per year so there is increasing demand for haemodialysis places. 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. Read travel tips for people with kidney failure for more info on how to arrange dialysis when travelling bother in Australia and overseas.
The Kidney Health Australia - Australian Holiday Dialysis Konnections Program If you are a haemodialysis patient, you may want to consider registering with our new Australian Holiday Dialysis Konnections Program. This program is simple -as Kidney Health Australia simply links dialysis patients wanting to travel. Registered participants may have their 'wish' to travel in Australia and desired destination listed on this Register - no personal contact info is provided, although some *conditions may apply. If you see a listing you would like to consider, the registered participant contacts us and we give you the info you need. To this point your privacy is protected. You arrange the fine details yourself.
* A few Dialysis Units around Australia try to keep vacancies for holidaying patients and are listed below.
* Some Dialysis Units may have temporary vacancies for a set period and are listed below
* Some Dialysis Units may require patient screening for communicable diseases, before an exchange is approved.
NOTE: 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
Firstly, talk to your health care team about your travel plans before doing anything else. Your renal unit should help you organise short or long term dialysis at another centre in Australia. It is very important to plan your 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 about the dates of your visit. Let the renal nurse who is helping with your planning know if you cannot dialyse on some days. DUG Questions to ask before a short stay Renal Unit visit.
- Ask your health care team where renal units are located. See our Australian Dialysis Unit Guide
- A special transfer form (ask your renal unit) will be sent in advance to your destination unit and you should carry copies with you when travelling.
- Phone the renal unit you will be visiting as soon as you arrive at your destination to introduce yourself, and confirm your appointment times.
- Arrange to visit the renal unit when you arrive at your destination, before your 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.
- When you are on holiday, it is important that your health care team can contact you, especially if you are on the transplant waiting list. So ensure you provide your travel itinerary to them before you travel.
Planning a holiday on Peritoneal Dialysis is relatively easy. Dialysis supplies, in most cases can be delivered to your holiday destination. Talk to your doctor and renal nurse who can help you with the arrangements. When you are on holiday, it is important that your health care team can contact you, especially if you are on the transplant waiting list. You may want to talk to your doctor or nurse about travel when on the transplant list.
Bags go astray. It doesn't happen often but when it does, they most often arrive on the next flight. To be safe, always pack all medications in your carry-on bag - never in your checked luggage.
Can I go on holiday overseas whilst on dialysis?
Kidney failure can make travelling overseas difficult but not impossible. It is important to first speak to your health care team about the effect that this might have on your health.
Obtaining haemodialysis in other countries is possible but be aware standards of care may not be the same in all countries. See some options in recommended weblinks below, which suggests a list of international renal units and holiday dialysis centres which specialise in this field. Some of these may charge for their services.
Travelling on Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) overseas is easier, but will require carefull planning, well ahead of your departure. You should speak with your doctor to arrange for back-up medical care in case of ill health. Dialysis supplies, in most cases can be delivered to your holiday destination. Talk to your doctor and renal nurse who can help you with these arrangements and advise if your general health will allow you to travel overseas. When you are on holiday, it is important that your health care team can contact you, especially if you are on the transplant waiting list. So ensure you provide your detailed travel itinerary to them before you travel.
You may want to talk to your doctor or nurse about travel when on the transplant list. Travelling whilst waiting for a Kidney Transplant is possible. Consult your doctor and talk to your Transplant Coordinator about your travel plans. The Coordinator can help you to decide whether you will be able to return in time if a kidney becomes available.
Carry medical supplies with you sufficient for the whole trip, plus extra in case of emergencies, or arrange for supplies to be delivered ahead of time to your destinations. If pre-ordering, ensure supplies have arrived at your destination before starting out. Ensure that you arrange a clean space to do exchanges and store supplies. Bags go astray. It doesn't happen often but when it does, they most often arrive on the next flight. To be safe, always pack all medications in your carry-on bag—never in your checked luggage. Airplanes don't have refrigerators, so if you have a drug with you that 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 labels 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.
You can find out more about travelling with CKD in the Australian Dialysis Unit Guide and may be assisted at Medicare - Travelling Overseas. Note that Reciprocal Health Care Agreements do not replace the need for private travel health insurance. Kidney Health Australia wishes to keep this valuable resource up to date. Should you notice errors notify us immediately at DUG Project Co-ordinator
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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 far away places
- Eurodial
- eNeph List of International Dialysis Units
- Fresenius Medical Care: Travelling and Dialysis
- Global Dialysis Extensive resource for dialysis patients who want to travel overseas, including a detailed listing of dialysis units, by country region
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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 +679 310 0020 or fijidialysiscentre@gmail.com
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Holiday Dialysis: Dr Berger - Travel service for dialysising patients - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece-Crete, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, Poland
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International Kidney Foundations
International Kidney Patient Associations
Travel tips to make your overseas travel successful
- Find out about medical costs in advance - does your destination have a medical payment agreement with Australia through Medicare.
- Ask your health care team for contact details of doctors or hospitals you can contact in case of an emergency. Register with Smart Traveller, Australian Government travel advisory and consular assistance.
- Travel insurance for people with kidney disease
- Take enough medication with you for the whole trip, with some extra in case of lost luggage or a spillage. Make sure you put your medications and prescriptions in your carry-on luggage.
- It is a good idea to carry spare written prescriptions with you in carry on luggage.
- 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.
- You will need to find out if you need a different type of drug or prescription in other countries.
- 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 traveling 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.
Updated 22 February 2010 |