Home Haemodialysis Reimbursement for Electricity Costs

HHP

Dear Forum Members,
Can you help, I am doing some research into what arrangements are being made for patients on home haemo-dialysis.
I myself, am a home haemo-dialysis patient. (Basically my kidneys do not work and I rely on a machine to do the job of keeping my blood clean).
I have my treatment at home, and the equipment is on for most of the day. During a treatment day, the machine is on for approximately 7 - 8 hours to prepare the fluid to clean my blood and a further 9 hours of use for my treatment overnight. I repeat this 5 times a week.
I am currently being reimbursed by my local NHS Trust just under 40% of the cost of my electric to run the equipment.
What are your arrangements for reimbursement of costs from your NHS Trust, and do you think it is fair to have to pay towards a life sustaining treatment (considering the costs involved if you had your treatment 'in-centre' with the associated costs of staffing, as well as the potential cost of needing to have transport to and from the hospital).

I look forward to your views.
All the best and keep safe.

[Deleted User]

Depending on what benefits you claim have you looked at "warm home discount", also utility companies have charitable trust you might be able to approach, but mostly it will depend on wether you can afford it or not, are you claiming PIP e.g? which would go a long way towards helping with such bills, thats if you have care and/or mobility issues?

poppy12345

venison said:

Depending on what benefits you claim have you looked at "warm home discount",

That has ended now for years 19/20. I do beleive that there's an extra year this year and if so then applications will open later in the year.

Rodders53

Check out the Kidney charities for accurate advice and guidance on this?
https://www.kidney.org.uk/home-dialysis-the-advantages
https://www.kidneycareuk.org/  (a 2015 pdf on that site suggests NHS Trusts should reimburse the average electric and other utility costs in their region.  Ensure you are on the best tariff for the amount of electricity you consume, if possible).

Googling also found me this NHS England guidance note from 2015 https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2015/01/a06-serv-spec-haemodialysis-renl-failr-home.pdf 

The Charities may help you (re)negotiate the reimbursement rates you get with your Trust, and/or assist with claiming all the benefits you are entitled to to help with these costs?