Diaverum Portugal has successfully organised another holiday for people on dialysis and their families, through its ‘Let's Travel Together’ initiative.
For a whole week, a group of 40 dialysis patients and their loved ones enjoyed unique & unforgettable moments in Águeda, a popular city in the centre of Portugal known for its cultural richness. During this time, their continuity of care was ably supported by the nearby Diaverum Águeda clinic.
About ‘Let’s Travel Together’
The ‘Let's Travel Together’ initiative was created in 2023 in Portugal, in support of Diaverum’s holiday dialysis programme, d.HOLIDAY. With an educational purpose and a strong sense of social responsibility, it aims to arrange yearly group trips for Portugal-based dialysis patients and their caregivers within the country, in order to educate and give them confidence to travel, empowering them to live fulfilling lives.
The programme package features a travel itinerary, complete with pre-booked hotels, organised transfers, and daily guided tours & activities. Accompanied by a certified nurse throughout the trip, patients can enjoy quality time with their families, offering much-needed respite from the day-to-day restrictions managing chronic kidney disease can present. This group trip was the second to be organised since the initiative’s launch.
Michaela Blomstrand, Director Global Patient Experience and Stakeholder Management, said: “Most dialysis patients need to visit a clinic at least three times a week for 4-5 hours each time to receive their treatment, so being away from home can be a challenge. Our d.HOLIDAY programme, currently available in 24 countries across the world, empowers dialysis patients to travel with confidence, knowing that their continuity of care at their destination is ensured”.
I am sincerely proud of our ‘Let’s travel Together’ initiative in Portugal. The programme not only encourages dialysis patients to recognise their disease shouldn’t hold them back from travelling but also provides them with the opportunity to enjoy a fully organised trip with their loved ones”.
Marta Olim, d.HOLIDAY coordinator for Diaverum Portugal, added: “’Let’s Travel Together’ is an initiative that transforms the lives of not only our patients but also their families, as it turns the possibility of going on holiday – which may seem challenging for many dialysis patients because of the complexities of their treatment - into a reality. It stands as a testament to Diaverum’s culture of True care”.
One of the patients who participated in the trip shared: “For us, ‘Let’s travel together’ is the only possibility we have to travel with the confidence and security we need. We feel like we can travel without worrying about anything, because everything is organised, with a travel plan that is completely focused on our needs; this leaves us worry-free and allows us to enjoy the trip to the fullest”.
d.HOLIDAY makes it possible for all dialysis patients to enjoy Portugal, one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. For more information on how to travel there with d.HOLIDAY – which recently launched a new programme supporting patients on a kidney transplant list to travel - visit our website. To get more information about the ‘Let’s travel together’ initiative, you can contact Marta Olim.