Holiday dialysis in the UK, by holiday region
Where to get dialysis on the coast and in the countryside — Cornwall, Devon, Bournemouth, Brighton, Norfolk, the Lake District and Scotland — and who pays, whether you're an NHS patient or visiting from abroad.
Unit details last checked October 2026. Holiday capacity changes every season, so always confirm with the unit.
Who pays for holiday dialysis in the UK
- NHS dialysis patients
- Free. Your home unit's holiday coordinator requests dialysis away from base from the unit near where you're staying, and sends your records.
- EU, EEA and Swiss visitors
- Free at NHS units with a valid EHIC or PRC, but only if you arrange it with the unit before you travel and it has space. Private units aren't covered.
- Visitors from everywhere else
- Usually charged. NHS hospitals in England bill 150% of the NHS cost and want payment upfront for planned treatment. Check whether your country has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK, but expect to pay.
These are the rules for England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own charging rules for visitors, so ask the unit what applies. Emergency dialysis is never refused or delayed while charges are sorted out.
Holiday dialysis units by region
Cornwall
One of the hardest places in England to get holiday dialysis in summer. Units fill months ahead, so ask before you book accommodation.
- Dialysis near Cornwall (St Ives) — Royal Cornwall Hospital Renal Unit (Treliske)
Devon
Exeter's main unit takes visitors when it has space. Like Cornwall, Devon is short of holiday capacity in summer.
Wonford Haemodialysis Unit, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital
Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW
15 stations, open 7.30am–11pm Monday to Saturday. Takes people holidaying in the area where spaces allow.
Dorset, Bournemouth & the New Forest
Dorset County Hospital doesn't offer holiday dialysis and refers visitors to the dedicated holiday unit in Bournemouth.
KC Dialysis Centre
35 Southwood Avenue, Southbourne, Bournemouth BH6 3QB
Independent holiday-only unit near Southbourne beach, for visitors to Dorset, Bournemouth and the New Forest. Pre-booked sessions Monday to Saturday; takes UK and international patients.
Brighton & the Sussex coast
The Sussex Kidney Centre in Brighton lists holiday dialysis among its services, with satellite units along the coast.
Sussex Kidney Centre, Royal Sussex County Hospital
Eastern Road, Brighton BN2 5BE
Run by University Hospitals Sussex (which replaced the old Brighton and Sussex trust in 2021). Satellite units in Bexhill, Crawley, Eastbourne and Worthing.
Norfolk coast
Two small units on the north Norfolk coast exist purely for visitors, and don't treat regular local patients.
Mermaid Centre (DaVita), Wells Community Hospital
Mill Road, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1RF
Small seasonal holiday unit run by DaVita, open roughly spring to autumn. Book through your home unit or DaVita's holiday dialysis team.
Norfolk Dialysis, Carole Brown Health Centre
St Nicholas Court, Church Lane, Dersingham PE31 6GZ
Two-station, nurse-run holiday unit near the Sandringham Estate and Hunstanton beaches. Open year-round, Monday to Saturday, by advance booking.
Bath, Salisbury & Stonehenge
Bath's satellite unit accepts visiting patients; Salisbury is the nearest unit to Stonehenge.
- Dialysis near Bath — Royal United Hospital Bath — Satellite Dialysis Unit
- Dialysis near Stonehenge — Salisbury Dialysis Unit
Lake District
There's no unit inside the national park. Kendal is the nearest.
- Dialysis near Lake District — Westmorland Renal Centre, Westmorland General Hospital
York & North Yorkshire
York Hospital's trust also runs satellites in Harrogate, Scarborough and Selby.
- Dialysis near York — York Acute Haemodialysis Unit, York Hospital
Edinburgh & the Scottish Highlands
Edinburgh fills up in August. In the Highlands, Inverness is the main unit, with a small satellite on Skye.
- Dialysis near Edinburgh — Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Renal Unit
- Dialysis near Scottish Highlands — Raigmore Hospital Renal Unit (Birnie Centre)
London, Oxford & Cambridge
Large NHS networks with many satellites. London is busy year-round, so book early.
- Dialysis near London — King's College Hospital Renal Unit; Tottenham Hale Dialysis & Advanced Kidney Care Centre
- Dialysis near Oxford — Oxford Kidney Unit, Churchill Hospital
- Dialysis near Cambridge — Cambridge Dialysis Centre (Addenbrooke's)
Booking tips
- Ask for dialysis before you pay for accommodation. Units often won't confirm until a few weeks out, so look for refundable bookings.
- Allow 6–8 weeks at minimum, and longer for July, August and Christmas. Cornwall, Devon and London are the hardest to get.
- Have recent bloods and virology (hepatitis B, C and HIV) ready. Units won't confirm your chair without them.
- If you're visiting from abroad, get the cost per session in writing and check your travel insurance covers dialysis.
Our entry requirements checker lists the paperwork units ask for, and the travelling on dialysis checklist covers the rest of your planning.
Holiday dialysis UK: common questions
Is holiday dialysis free in the UK?
For NHS dialysis patients, yes — your home unit arranges dialysis away from base and the NHS covers it. Visitors from the EU, EEA and Switzerland with a valid EHIC or PRC can have dialysis at NHS units free, as long as they arrange it with the unit in advance and it has space. Most other overseas visitors pay.
How much does dialysis cost for overseas visitors in England?
NHS hospitals must charge chargeable overseas visitors 150% of the NHS cost of treatment, and for planned treatment like holiday dialysis they ask for the estimated cost upfront. Private units set their own prices. Ask the unit for a written quote per session before you travel.
How far ahead should I book holiday dialysis in the UK?
Allow at least 6–8 weeks, and longer for July, August and the Christmas holidays. Cornwall, Devon and London are the hardest areas to get holiday slots, so confirm dialysis before paying for non-refundable accommodation.
Which UK seaside towns have holiday dialysis units?
There are dedicated holiday units in Bournemouth (KC Dialysis Centre), Wells-next-the-Sea and Dersingham on the Norfolk coast. NHS units in Truro, Exeter and Brighton also take visitors when they have capacity.
Visiting the UK from abroad?
Our booking service is coming soon. Join the waitlist and we'll contact units near where you're staying, confirm a chair and handle the paperwork once we launch. NHS patients can arrange UK holiday dialysis free through their home unit.