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APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 10:44 am
by Birdman
Having been on CAPD for nearly a year, I am going to try APD. My wonderful Senior Sister at the hospital is going to have me in for a "trial run" first in about 3 weeks time.

But can someone here in the UK please give me a rough guide as to how much the overnight machine costs to run. Also, can I get reimbursement for any of the cost?

Thanks

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:50 pm
by rheaybou
I was told it costs about the same to run as a fridge freezer. You can claim for electricity costs, ask your renal nurse for the forms.

I never got round to claiming to be honest. Maybe I should have as I was saving the NHS £££

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 12:19 am
by MandyA
When I remembered to do so, I was able to reclaim the costs of running my APD machine.

The Royal London Hospital paid three monthly in arrears.

I had to submit my electricity bills to claim, and they paid a standard rate for running the machine.

A quick flick through my bank statements shows I received £37.80 per quarter in 2013, paid directly into my account.

Regards,
Mandy

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 8:07 am
by Birdman
MandyA wrote:When I remembered to do so, I was able to reclaim the costs of running my APD machine.

The Royal London Hospital paid three monthly in arrears.

I had to submit my electricity bills to claim, and they paid a standard rate for running the machine.

A quick flick through my bank statements shows I received £37.80 per quarter in 2013, paid directly into my account.

Regards,
Mandy
Thankyou very much for that information Mandy.

I am typically British, and don't like to ask for money. But I was a little concerned about the cost. May I ask one more question? Did the hospital offer the information about getting reimbursement, or did you have to ask?

Thanks again.

Birdman

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 1:04 pm
by wagolynn
Hi Birdman,

I think you will find, hospitals offering information about reclaiming costs will vary from area to area.
So if it has not already been mentioned, ask.

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 8:32 pm
by MandyA
Hi Birdman,

I was and am working.

I'm not eligible for hospital transport, and have never thought of trying to claim for fares to and from appointments, so I don't think I would have asked about claiming for the cost of running the APD machine.... the hospital must have told me about it.

I guess it's an issue for people, because obviously APD involves a cost that you wouldn't incur on hospital haemodialysis, and that might influence your choice of treatment.

At the Royal London, the electricity reimbursement scheme was run by the same person who organised holiday dialysis.

If your hospital doesn't tell you about reimbursement, I suggest you ask your holiday dialysis co-ordinator.

Good luck.

Mandy

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 6:27 am
by Birdman
MandyA wrote:Hi Birdman,

I was and am working.

I'm not eligible for hospital transport, and have never thought of trying to claim for fares to and from appointments, so I don't think I would have asked about claiming for the cost of running the APD machine.... the hospital must have told me about it.

I guess it's an issue for people, because obviously APD involves a cost that you wouldn't incur on hospital haemodialysis, and that might influence your choice of treatment.

At the Royal London, the electricity reimbursement scheme was run by the same person who organised holiday dialysis.

If your hospital doesn't tell you about reimbursement, I suggest you ask your holiday dialysis co-ordinator.

Good luck.

Mandy
Thanks Mandy,

I have never claimed for anything in my life, which is probably why I find it difficult to ask. All I get is free parking at the hospital, which is a universal thing for every dialysis patient there, whether on home or hospital dialysis.

I don't know who runs holiday dialysis at our hospital. I guess that all hospitals have a slightly different set up, because I don't have to deal with a holiday dialysis co-ordinator at all. When we go away and need peritoneal supplies delivered to a hotel, I just have to give my Senior Sister the details, and she sends a form to Fresenius who then deal with it all - and very efficiently I might add. This is the same Senior Sister who is organising my APD. She is fabulous, which is another reason I don't like to appear like I am a money grabber after all she has done for me. (I know in reality I am not money grabbing; but that is just how I feel it looks.)

Maybe I'll just throw in something like "I bet that uses a bit of electric" and see what is said.

Again, thanks for your kind help.

Birdman

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 11:08 am
by DeanH
When I was on APD through the Royal London in 2014/2015 they also told me that if storage was an issue (as there are a lot of boxes to store on a monthly basis) then they would pay up to a certain amount for a shed or similar to be built in your garden etc, if you use a spare room to store your equipment instead then you can apply to your council for a lower council tax band. At least this was the case for me through the Royal London.

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Mon May 09, 2016 7:57 pm
by MandyA
Hi Birdman,

It's hard, isn't it?

You think that the hospital and staff are already doing so much for you, you don't want to ask for anything else...

Good luck with reclaiming the cost of running your machine.... it does help.

Good to hear that you are with Fresenius though...

I had a Baxter APD machine for a couple of years, and frequently suffered from drain pain. Then I switched to a Fresenius machine, and the problem was resolved immediately!

Best wishes.
Mandy

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Tue May 10, 2016 12:29 pm
by Dibs
Hi Birdman.

I wasn't sure about claiming, but I think Exeter told me that I would get it when I was considering my options and it is something that could go on for years. I didn't claim mileage when helping with some trials. So after three months of APD, I did raise it with my nurse and it was paid into my account shortly after that. It was thirty something pounds, but I didn't need to show any electricity bills.

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 4:43 pm
by Birdman
Could I just say thank you to everyone who has responded. It has been a great help. I now know that I will not be "money grabbing" to get an electricity allowance.

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Posted: Wed May 25, 2016 3:10 pm
by eric251139
Does anyone know how the system works in Wales? I am expecting to find that we are issued with a bucket of coal to feed our steam cycler! :)