Holiday Experiences

This page will be updated with comments from Swindon patients who have been away and would like to share their experiences.

Belinda Robinson

"In December we decided we needed a holiday in the sun. I had already discussed my plans with Fran and used the Global Dialysis website to find a suitable clinic in the Canary Islands - I selected the Tamaragua Clinic in the north of Tenerife, where the cost of dialysis is covered by your EHIC. Dr Harden confirmed that I was fit to travel and I decided to book through Freedom Holidays as they are experienced with dialysis patients and could arranged the special insurance. From a number of choices we selected to stay at the Casablanca Apartments in Puerto de la Cruz from the end of February. We decided on two weeks self catering which meant we had plenty of "non-dialysis days" and could work our own way round the renal diet restrictions. Freedom asked me what days/times would be convenient for haemodialysis and soon confirmed the dialysis dates were available. Fran sent the necessary paperwork to Freedom, who passed it on to the clinic, and also arranged for pre-holiday blood tests and a covering letter.

Once we got to Tenerife we located the clinic the day before, only 10 minutes walk from the apartment, and then on the day after our arrival I went in for my first session at 8am. Unfortunately a message from the clinic had apparently not reached Freedom and on the first day they could only dialyse me in the afternoon - but it wasn't a problem. The Tamaragua administrator spoke very good english and I just went back at 2pm. My lack of spanish and the nurses' lack of english was a bit of a problem, but we got by with a lot of pointing! A doctor visited daily and the two I saw spoke good english, but I certainly think it would be worth learning a few key dialysis phrases in future. Usually sessions are quite chatty at Swindon so I found it odd sitting for 4 hours hardly talking, but my holiday books got me through the sessions and I had a lovely view of palm trees from the window.

The main differences from treatment at Swindon:

A nurse weighs you and sticks a sticker with your weight on your hand;
The nurses all wear green surgery-type clothes and face masks;
They manually take your blood pressure each hour;
And lastly (but not least!) they served us a choice of French bread sandwiches (which scattered crumbs everywhere!!), a yoghurt (with a straw), a small coffee and a small drink of water.

We had a brilliant holiday and wouldn't hesitate going again, after a few spanish lessons!"

Robert Bayne

"During my first year of treatment I was hesitant to take a holiday, however with the positive encouragement I received from the staff I have now taken two holidays.

On the first trip I was accompanied by my wife Barbara and my son Grant as "dedicated driver", to the south coast of Spain where we have gone several times before to stay in our time-share apartment. The renal staff communicated with the Marbella clinic giving them all the necessary medical information for my treatment, once I had my place booked. It is essential to start preparations well in advance for organising a dialysis place and insurance, along with flights and accommodation. The 4 hour treatments seemed less because on the 4th floor of the clinic there was a view out over the blue Mediterranean. We flew (Bristol/Malaga/Bristol) by EasyJet and the airport staff made it as easy as possible. Priority assisted boarding was provided at no extra cost and I quite enjoyed being wheeled out to the plane and then lifted up and loaded in by a kind of fork lift apparatus and, in the terminal buildings, being driven along in a golf buggy.

The second more recent holiday was to my homeland when we flew this time by FlyBee (Birmingham/Glasgow/Birmingham) who, with staff at the airports, were equally helpful with boarding and disembarking. The reason for going to Glasgow was for a family wedding. After a super, typically Scottish, wedding we all drove across to the East coast to a holiday lodge for the rest of the week. This was conveniently near to Dundee where I was given excellent dialysis treatment for my usual 3 days in extremely friendly and personalised (one-on-one) circumstances. Details of the Tayside unit are available in the Swindon Renal Unit waiting room. Again, in the pre-preparations the Swindon Renal staff were as pleasantly helpful as before. In between my treatments I was able to join in the majority of the social events - the highlight being a meal in the Carnoustie Golf Club-House where we hosted 37 relatives and friends.

It was a great holiday and if anyone wishes to have more details on my experience of holidays with dialysis I am happy to discuss."

Candy Manclark

"The first time I went to America was 10 years ago and I was on CAPD. It was very different from my week in Miami Beach and a week in Disneyland L.A. last November.
It's more troublesome to arrange haemodialysis in the US, especially with Fresenius, as their HQ is in Italy. All the paperwork has to go via Italy to the unit in the US and with the time difference, it takes a long time for their reply. Thank goodness I had Fran to co-ordinate and liase with the unit over there to enable my dialysis to go without a hitch.

The dialysis unit are in an office block but once inside its like any other dialysis unit. Nearly all the staff are from the Phillipines, they are very friendly and efficient.

The only problem I found is that they start very early: 6am in Miami and 5am in L.A! However, I was done by 9-10am and could spend the rest of the day doing the tourist thing. Lucky for me the temperature was still in the nineties during the day and I had a great time.

Sorry Fran, I have caught the travel bug and I want to go again. Being on dialysis should not stop you from going on holiday. It gave me such a boost, I felt great and really happy when I got back.

Thanks to you Fran."

Thelma Keen

"I have just returned from a very enjoyable holiday in Bournemouth and used the facilities at the Southbourne Kidney Dialysis Unit. We had some trepidation at first, but Chris and Geraldine were very welcoming and efficient and I would certainly not hesitate in going again. The unit has three chairs, and Geraldine's buttered toast is to die for!!"

October 2006

Mike Powell

"I have been on haemodialysis for two and a half years and this year went on my first holiday, to Torbay in Devon, dialysing at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. I dialysed from 7pm to 11pm which fitted well around my holiday plans.

The weather was glorious the whole week and I feel so much better for the break and change of scenery. Now that I have experienced dialysing elsewhere I want to try it again. Next year a little more adventurous - somewhere abroad perhaps!"

September 2006

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