WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE PORTUGAL FOR THIS TRIP?
Portugal is an EU Member State with beautiful natural scenery, a rich history and culture, and a very high standard of healthcare – particularly in the care of patients requiring dialysis. This has motivated us to organise a trip for our patients to this fascinating European country.
DO YOU BELIEVE PORTUGAL OFFERS ALL THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS TO WELCOME AND SUPPORT DIALYSIS PATIENTS TRAVELLING ABROAD?
The group consists of dialysis patients and their carers. It is important to us that our patients’ need for dialysis causes them as little inconvenience as possible whilst travelling. Portugal, and in particular the dialysis centre in Amarante, offered excellent facilities and was a wonderful choice for our trip. We ascertained that Portugal, and in particular the dialysis centre in Amarante, offers all the necessary facilities to accommodate and support dialysis patients who have chosen to visit the country. In our case, the sessions began at 5.00 pm, which allowed our patients to experience the life and beauty of Portugal, without being constrained by time, and to visit a wide variety of tourist, cultural and historical sites, thereby getting to know the country better.
WHAT IMPRESSED OR TOUCHED YOU THE MOST DURING YOUR TIME IN PORTUGAL?
Portugal proved to be a very beautiful and welcoming country. Our patients had a wonderful stay. The good infrastructure for people with reduced mobility also contributed to their pleasant experience, ensuring that they too could fully participate in excursions, visits to places of interest, restaurants and so on. The professional attitude of the medical team and the attentive care they provided to our patients helped to ensure that our patients remained in good spirits and felt at ease.
WHAT WAS THE PATIENTS’ FEEDBACK ABOUT THE CLINIC AND THE TREATMENTS THEY RECEIVED?
Our patients were very pleasantly surprised by the welcome they received and by the attentive and personalised care shown by the staff at the dialysis centre towards their individual circumstances and needs. The group underwent three dialysis sessions, and on each occasion the staff treated each of our patients professionally, courteously and with great care. At the dialysis centre, our patients felt at ease and well looked after.
WHAT WERE YOUR IMPRESSIONS OF THE CLINICAL TEAM?
The clinical team consists of excellent professionals who, in addition to their high level of expertise, did everything possible to ensure that our patients felt comfortable and at home, rather than in an unfamiliar environment.
DO YOU THINK YOU WILL RETURN TO PORTUGAL IN THE FUTURE?
We would be delighted to visit Portugal again.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND PORTUGAL TO OTHER DIALYSIS PATIENTS? IF SO, WHAT WOULD BE THE MAIN REASONS?
We are delighted to recommend Portugal, and in particular the dialysis centre in Amarante and its team, for visits by groups including dialysis patients. The main reasons for this are: the high professional standards of the dialysis centre; the high level of professionalism of the team; the team’s personalised approach to each patient and their commitment to ensuring everyone receives the best possible care; and the flexibility of the procedures, so that patients can enjoy their trip to the full.
THIS TRIP FELT PARTICULARLY SPECIAL. IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WERE THE MAIN FACTORS THAT MADE IT SUCH A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE?
There are many beautiful places in the world. There are many places with a rich history, beautiful natural surroundings and diverse cultures. Portugal is one such place. What made this trip particularly special was the way people treated our patients and us, their carers. Every single one of our hosts – the hotel staff, the medical specialists and staff at the dialysis centre, the local tour guide you recommended to us, and the team responsible for the transfer from the airport to the hotel and back – treated each and every one of our patients as a friend. Everywhere we went, we felt not like guests, but like old, long-awaited friends.