Travel abroad with PNH
It is advisable to discuss potential travel plans with your PNH Centre prior to making any arrangements. It is also advised to speak to the PNH Centre about any immunisations that may be needed to make sure that it is advisable for them to be given in your case.
Patients receiving eculizumab
It is much easier for patients who are having treatment with eculizumab to only be abroad in between infusions. If your holiday is of 2 weeks or less we can usually move the dates of your infusions so that you have one immediately before you travel and the next one on your return. It can take two or three doses to move the dates so advanced warning is desirable (see below). For most patients it is safe to extend the interval between doses to 16 days but this should only be done after consultation with the PNH Centre.
If your trip abroad is going to last more than 2 weeks then it may be possible to arrange for you to receive your eculizumab infusion whilst you are away. Whether it can be arranged for eculizumab infusions to be given by local healthcare professionals in other countries depends on the country involved and on whether we can find a suitable facility for you to be treated in. This is possible for most countries in our experience.
The National PNH Service is able to cover the cost of the eculizumab whilst you are abroad but not for any costs of administration. However sometimes these can be recovered from the NHS through an alternative system but this usually requires at least 2 months to arrange. Prior to treatment in Europe it is advisable to get an S2 health form, which will cover the potential cost of having an infusion. If NHS Funding cannot be established before you travel then any charges for eculizumab administration would have to be met by the patient. Such charges can vary hugely depending on the hospital and the country concerned.
It is best to plan travel as far ahead as possible and inform the PNH Centre as soon as you can. This should be ideally at least 2 months before so that we can help with any arrangements if necessary.
Travel Insurance
You should not travel abroad unless you have adequate travel insurance that will provide cover for you whilst you are away. Below is a list of insurance companies that patients have reported good experiences with, and that know about PNH.
Medical Insurance Anywhere
Tel: 01268 782745
Asda Insurance
Tel: 0845 300 5773
All Clear Travel Insurance
Tel: 0845 250 5200
Email: [email protected]
Get My .com Travel Insurance
Tel: 0845 026 2441
Web:- getmy.com
Marks & Spencer Travel Insurance
Tel: 0800 068 3918
Web:- marksandspencer.com/insurance/travel-insurance/overview/
AXA Insurance
Tel: 0844 874 0360
Web – axa.co.uk