Concierge renal travel · UK & worldwide
Holiday kidney dialysis, arranged around your home renal unit.
Dialysis need not stop you travelling. We coordinate in-centre HD, home HD support and PD supply delivery at destination units in the UK, EU and worldwide — always with your renal team in the lead.
Why patients choose us
- 01
Your home unit stays in charge
Your renal team leads. We coordinate the destination unit around their prescription — never around it.
- 02
Booked properly, weeks ahead
Slots at holiday HD units go quickly. We work to a four-to-eight-week lead so the trip is confirmed, not hopeful.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic and no agency, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What holiday dialysis actually costs.
Indicative per-session ranges across UK, EU and long-haul destinations. We confirm firm figures — and what your insurance covers — before you book flights.
In short
A holiday HD session in the EU: £150–£350, with 4–8 weeks lead time.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK holiday HD session (NHS reciprocal) | £0 (NHS) | 4 hours | Same visit |
| UK holiday HD session (private unit) | £250–£450 | 4 hours | Same visit |
| EU/EEA holiday HD (GHIC-covered) | State-funded* | 4 hours | Same visit |
| EU/EEA holiday HD (private unit) | £150–£350 | 4 hours | Same visit |
| Long-haul holiday HD (USA, Asia, Aus) | £300–£500 | 4 hours | Same visit |
| Cruise ship on-board dialysis | £350–£500 | 4 hours | Same visit |
| PD supply delivery (Baxter / Fresenius) | Manufacturer-funded | Pre-trip | 4–6 weeks lead |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
*GHIC covers state-provided emergency dialysis in the EU/EEA and Switzerland but not always routine holiday HD — specific arrangements are needed for each destination. Prices vary by unit, by season and by how much notice you can give.
The problem
The right unit, the right prescription, the right paperwork.
Dialysis three times a week is life-sustaining. Travel means the whole prescription — flows, dialyser, dry weight, medications, virology — needs to move with you, on time, to a unit that will actually accept you. Miss any one and the trip does not happen.
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Not sure your unit will let you?
They almost always will — with lead time and the right paperwork. We start that conversation with them for you.
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Worried about cost and cover?
GHIC, insurance and self-pay all have small print. We map what each covers before you commit.
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Want it done properly?
A named destination unit, written confirmation, and a clear plan if something goes wrong abroad.
The journey
From enquiry to home again — what happens, in order.
One coordinator from first message through to handover back to your home renal unit.
Phase 1 · Before the trip
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · While you are away
Sessions and a phone number
Phase 3 · After
Handover back to your unit
- 01
Before
You tell us where and when
A short, confidential form. Destination, dates, your home unit, current modality (in-centre HD, home HD, PD) and any travel constraints.
- 02
Before
We speak to your renal team
Nothing moves without your home unit. We collect the current prescription, latest bloods, virology, dry weight and access details from them.
- 03
Before
We find and hold a slot
UK holiday units, EU/Med units, cruises with on-board dialysis, or PD supply delivery — whichever fits. Written confirmation before you book flights.
- 04
On the trip
Arrival at the destination unit
You arrive with paperwork, ID, medication list and access supplies. The unit runs the session on your home prescription.
- 05
On the trip
Sessions during the trip
Usually three sessions per week, kept to your usual pattern where possible. PD patients continue exchanges with pre-delivered supplies.
- 06
On the trip
Something wrong — who to call
A single number for access problems, fluid overload, missed sessions or illness. We escalate to your home team the same day.
- 07
After
Home, and a handover back
Session records and any incident notes go back to your home unit before your next dialysis at home.
Typical lead time: 4–8 weeks from enquiry to first session abroad. Cruise and peak-summer EU slots: 3–6 months.
When it helps
When holiday dialysis planning is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means A&E abroad rather than a phone call to your home unit.
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In-centre HD, three times a week
Your regular hospital sessions must continue on holiday — we book slots at a destination unit that matches your prescription.
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Home HD patient travelling
Most patients book into a destination in-centre unit rather than travelling with a NxStage or Physidia machine.
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Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
Easier to travel with — supplies are delivered to your destination in advance by Baxter or Fresenius.
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Kidney transplant recipient
No dialysis needed, but immunosuppression, infection risk and sun protection all need pre-trip planning.
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Cruise-based holiday
A handful of cruise lines run on-board dialysis suites — booked months ahead and priced per session.
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Special occasion travel
Weddings, funerals, family reunions — non-negotiable trips that need a dialysis plan wrapped around them.
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Extended stay abroad
Winter in Spain, family in Cyprus, working stints in the Gulf — longer trips need a settled unit at destination.
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Red flag: missed session abroad
A missed dialysis session with breathlessness, chest pain or heavy fluid gain is an A&E problem at destination, not a phone call home.
Options
There is more than one way to travel on dialysis.
What each option actually involves — and which fits your modality, your destination and your budget.
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UK holiday HD unit
NHS and private units on the Cornish, Norfolk and Yorkshire coasts routinely take visiting patients — no travel insurance headaches.
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EU/EEA holiday HD
Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Malta all have well-run units used to UK visitors. GHIC covers state-provided care with limits.
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Long-haul holiday HD
USA, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia are all workable with specialist agencies and appropriate insurance — self-pay per session is the norm.
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Cruise ship dialysis
Selected Mediterranean and Caribbean cruises run on-board HD with visiting nephrology teams. Slots are limited and booked far ahead.
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Peritoneal dialysis travel
Baxter and Fresenius deliver PD supplies to hotels, villas and apartments worldwide with several weeks’ notice.
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Home HD portable travel
Rare and complex — portable NxStage or Physidia units can travel, but water quality, power and customs limit this to specific cases.
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Transplant travel planning
No dialysis needed. The plan is immunosuppression continuity, infection risk, vaccinations and sun protection — not a chair booking.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether the trip is realistic on your current modality, and how to plan it — no obligation.
Our vetted destination network
Units used by UK renal teams, not just any chair.
NHS and private units on the UK coast (Cornwall, Norfolk, Yorkshire) via Diaverum, Fresenius, B Braun and NHS provider networks; EU units in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta, Greece, France and Italy; long-haul partners in the USA, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia.
Selection criteria
How we choose every destination unit we book into.
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Destination units used regularly by UK renal teams, with English-speaking staff
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Written prescription confirmation before flights are booked
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Clear escalation route back to your home unit for any complication
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Extended travel insurance guidance specifying ESRF, RRT and pre-existing conditions
Safety on the trip
What can go wrong abroad — honestly.
Most holiday dialysis is uneventful. Where problems occur, they cluster in a few predictable places — access, fluid, electrolytes, missed sessions, medications and insurance.
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Access problems come first
Bleeding, a lost thrill on your AV fistula, a hot or tender line — all reasons to head straight to the destination unit or A&E.
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Fluid overload in the heat
Heat makes fluid restriction harder and gains between sessions creep up. Weigh daily and stick to the fluid allowance your team set.
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Electrolytes and diet drift
Holiday food is high in potassium and salt. Under-dialysis plus dietary lapses is the commonest reason patients feel unwell abroad.
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Missed or shortened session
A missed session is not the end of the world; two is a problem. If a unit cancels, tell us and your home team the same day.
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Medication supply and storage
Carry medications in original packaging with prescriptions in hand luggage. Immunosuppressants and EPO need temperature care in transit.
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Vaccinations and virology
Hep B immunity, tetanus, travel vaccines and up-to-date HIV/HCV status are all needed by most overseas units before they accept you.
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Travel insurance is different
Standard policies exclude ESRF and dialysis. You need a specialist policy that names your kidney disease, modality and any transplant.
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Transplant patients: sun and infection
Immunosuppression means real skin-cancer risk in strong sun and higher risk from food, water and mosquito-borne illness. Plan accordingly.
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Red flags abroad
Breathlessness, chest pain, heavy bleeding from access, spreading redness or a fever after a session — A&E at destination, not a wait-and-see.
Reading your travel dialysis pack
Your travel pack in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever destination and whichever modality, the paperwork your home unit sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Prescription language is precise — we translate it into a pack the destination unit will actually accept.
If you would like us to walk through your travel pack before you fly, just ask.
- 01 Header
Home unit and current modality
Your home renal unit, consultant nephrologist, and whether you are on in-centre HD, home HD, PD or post-transplant.
- 02 Technique
Prescription and access details
Kt/V target, ultrafiltration limits, dialyser type, blood and dialysate flow rates, dry weight, and current vascular access or PD catheter details.
- 03 Findings
Bloods, virology and medications
Recent Hb, K+, U&E and phosphate; Hep B, Hep C and HIV status; EPO regime, immunosuppression if transplanted, and full medication list.
- 04 Impression
Trip plan and escalation route
Read this first: dates, destination unit, session schedule, what to do if something goes wrong, and who to call at home.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Standard travel insurance excludes end-stage renal failure and dialysis. Specialist policies — often signposted by Kidney Care UK — name ESRF, RRT and any transplant explicitly. We confirm cover with you before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about holiday dialysis.
Quick answers on cost, cover, paperwork, PD, and travelling after a kidney transplant.
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Can I go on holiday if I am on dialysis?
Yes — most dialysis patients holiday successfully with planning. It needs four-to-eight weeks’ lead time, sign-off from your home renal unit, a confirmed slot at a destination unit, and specialist travel insurance. It is not a barrier; it is a checklist.
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How far ahead do I need to book holiday dialysis?
Four to eight weeks is normal. Popular EU coastal units in July and August, and cruise dialysis suites, need longer — sometimes three to six months. UK holiday units on the Cornish and Norfolk coasts book up in the same way.
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How much does holiday haemodialysis cost?
UK NHS units are free where a reciprocal arrangement is in place. In the EU/EEA, GHIC or EHIC covers state-provided emergency dialysis but not routine holiday HD in all cases — private units charge £150–£350 per session. Long-haul destinations run £300–£500 per session, cruise dialysis £350–£500.
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Does my UK travel insurance cover dialysis abroad?
Standard policies exclude end-stage renal failure and dialysis. You need a specialist policy that names your kidney disease, your modality (in-centre HD, home HD, PD, transplant) and any pre-existing conditions. Kidney Care UK keeps a list of insurers who cover renal patients.
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What paperwork do I need for a destination unit?
Passport, insurance details, a medical letter from your home renal team, current bloods (Hb, K+, U&E), Hep B/C and HIV status, EPO regime, dry weight, full dialysis prescription (Kt/V, ultrafiltration, dialyser type, flow rates), medications list and current vascular access details.
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Is peritoneal dialysis easier to travel with?
Generally yes. Baxter and Fresenius deliver PD supplies to hotels, villas and apartments worldwide with several weeks’ notice. You still need travel insurance, a medical letter and cool, clean storage — but you are not tied to a chair three times a week.
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Can I travel abroad after a kidney transplant?
Yes, and most patients do. There is no dialysis to arrange, but you must carry immunosuppression in hand luggage with prescriptions, avoid high-infection-risk destinations early after transplant, keep vaccinations up-to-date and take skin cancer risk seriously in strong sun.
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Where can I get help planning a dialysis holiday?
Kidney Care UK runs a dedicated holiday dialysis service (0808 802 5030), the National Kidney Federation and Kidney Wales offer guidance, and specialist agencies (Dialysis at Sea Cruises, Freedom Dialysis, the Global Dialysis directory) list units abroad. Your home renal unit stays in charge either way.
Related
Looking for something else?
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Haemodialysis
What in-centre and home HD actually involve.
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Deceased donor kidney transplant
The pathway from waiting list to transplant.
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All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
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Kidney Care UK holiday line
Independent charity support — 0808 802 5030.
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