Gérard Pons Voyages sets sail with Dialysis while Cruising

Gérard Pons Voyages of France has launched a range of Dialysis while Cruising holidays, which offer completely safe travel for dialysis patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and people with renal failure, as well as for their friends and family. The cruises cover the Mediterranean and Nordic seas.

[ClickPress, Thu Nov 23 2006] Gérard Pons Voyages of France has launched a range of Dialysis while Cruising holidays, which offer completely safe travel for dialysis patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and people with renal failure, as well as for their friends and family. The cruises cover the Mediterranean and Nordic seas.

Dialysis while Cruising holidays are the result of a partnership between Costa Cruises and Holiday Dialysis International, which was formed to set up on-board dialysis units, coordinate nephrology team activity, schedule dialysis sessions, and invoice and process therapy payments. Costa Cruises makes a dedicated space available for dialysis sessions and informs the senior personnel, such as the captain and the ship’s doctor, of the passengers undergoing dialysis. The rest of the staff and crew (bar staff, reception, stewards, etc.), treat dialysis patients in exactly the same way as all other passengers.

Dialysis while Cruising organises the cruises and coordinates the cruise and dialysis-session bookings. The company does not conduct any medical examinations or appraisals itself, but sends the medical documents in a confidential file to the ship’s medical team for confirmation of the treatment (all reservations are subject to the agreement of the nephrologist). The ships include a semi-permanent integrated dialysis unit – the generators, operating with a double needle system, can also be used with a single one. They can perform bicarbonate and acetate dialysis. Different filters may also be used.
On-board dialysis sessions cost €325 (some of which may be refunded, depending on patients’ healthcare cover). The schedule for dialysis sessions is drawn up, as far as possible, around the excursions programme. The on-board nephrologist reserves the right to modify the schedule in accordance with possible medical constraints. The on-board dialysis unit cannot dispense Eprex; patients requiring this drug must bring their own supply. There is no meal service in the ship’s hospital and patients are advised to eat before the sessions.

About Gérard Pons Voyages

Dialysis while Cruising is an integrated department of Gérard Pons Voyages, which is headquartered in Le Bouscat (in south-west France). The company has been organising travel for people with renal failure for 15 years and is itself part of the Sélectour group. Holiday Dialysis International is the travel division of Fresenius Medical Care AG, the world’s largest supplier of dialysis products and services.

For further information, please go to: www.dialysiswhilecruising.com


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