APD Electricity Cost

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Birdman
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2015 1:12 pm

APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
rheaybou
Posts: 1381
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 11:04 am
Location: Doncaster

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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 £££
Now 35 with Alports and I had my first kidney-versary 18th feb 2013....I hope to have many more.

My living donor and his family are doing all well.

==
Alports.
MandyA
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:45 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
Birdman
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2015 1:12 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
wagolynn
Posts: 1362
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 2:49 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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.
MandyA
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:45 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
Birdman
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2015 1:12 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
DeanH
Posts: 67
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:01 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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.
MandyA
Posts: 185
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 6:45 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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
Dibs
Posts: 76
Joined: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:29 pm
Location: Somerset

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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.
Birdman
Posts: 47
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2015 1:12 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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.
eric251139
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed May 25, 2016 2:53 pm

Re: APD Electricity Cost

Post 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! :)
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