As spring approaches and the good weather returns (we hope), our thoughts turn to holiday planning and possibly warmer climates. At Salford Royal, we don’t want our home haemodialysis patients to miss out and traditionally, arranging holiday dialysis, either in this country or abroad, was and continues to be dependent on finding a local hospital to provide your dialysis when you are on holiday. This can be particularly difficult in this country as many units are full. Even when you have arranged for holiday dialysis, this is often at a time that suits the unit rather than the patient.
Here at Salford, we offer training on a transportable machine which you can take to your hotel, caravan, or motorhome – and one of our patients, John Roberts, has blazed a trail all the way to Spain to dialyse on his NxStage dialysis machine in his apartment.
Although we have had a few patients who have dialysed away from home on their NxStage machines in the UK, and one hardy soul dialysed in her motorhome a number of times, John is the first we have organised to go abroad.
With the support of the NxStage homecare team and the staff on the RTU, we arranged for his delivery of dialysate fluid to his destination. John took his machine in a special container provided by the company, and the airline played its part by transporting it free of charge because it is classified as medical equipment.
John was then free to use his baggage allowance for the necessities of holiday packing and didn’t have to worry about the dialysis consumables.
I would love to say that I have spoken to John, but he is still abroad – and as you can see, dialysing to live! When he returns, I will get him to let everyone know how it went.
They say a picture paints a thousand words, and this is certainly true for this photo. Who says men can’t multi-task!
If anyone wants any information about the opportunity provided by Salford Royal to dialyse at home, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your CKD nurses or any of the Renal Training Unit Team. We are situated in the Renal Unit opposite WH Smith in the Hope Building, or on 0161 206 2291. If you are already on dialysis, just speak to one of your nurses, and we will arrange to visit you with more information.
