Latest news with #DaisyBus
ITV News
3 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Jersey health officials say termination of bus contract 'will not impact' cancer patients
Jersey health officials have defended ending a £56,600 contract for a bus service for cancer patients, citing declining service use and value for money. The Daisy Bus Service provides transport for patients from Jersey and the Isle of Wight travelling to the University Hospital Southampton for cancer treatment. However, the NHS and Wessex Cancer Support have confirmed the service will end on Wednesday 20 August. Health and Care Jersey (HCJ), which allocates the £56,600 annually, decided to discontinue the service following a review which found that it was not the "best value for money". HCJ also found it was more "economical" for patients to use HCJ-funded taxis instead, as they can be used anytime, whereas the bus was on a timetabled service. Emily Hoban, the Head of Access for HCJ, stated: "A notable decline in Jersey patients using the service this year meant that the Daisy Bus was operating at a cost of around £60 per passenger journey. "This is significantly higher than the average cost of a £19 taxi journey. "The termination of the Daisy Bus contract will not impact Jersey patients as all taxis are already booked and paid for directly by HCJ's Travel Office." "All patients who currently use the Daisy Bus Service will be made aware of their new travel arrangements when the service discontinues." The termination will also impact patients from the Isle of Wight who are staying in mainland hotels and use the service. However, in a joint statement, Wessex Cancer Support and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust said there would be alternative support to be used by cancer patients. They said: "We want to reassure patients that support remains available through NHS schemes for those who meet eligibility criteria. "This includes help with travel costs through the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) and access to Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) for eligible patients. "The Daisy Bus service between Portsmouth ferry terminal and Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth will continue at this time. "All partners are working closely to communicate with affected patients and to ensure they know what support is available through the NHS."
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Southampton Daisy Bus cancer treatment hospital shuttle to end
An "essential" free shuttlebus that takes patients undergoing cancer treatment to and from hospital is to be discontinued, a charity has Cancer Support's Daisy Bus is used by patients travelling for treatment from the Isle of Wight as well as those from the Channel Islands staying in hotels in the charity said external funding from the States of Jersey had been withdrawn and the service would end on 20 Government of Jersey has been contacted for comment. The bus runs five times a day between the Leonardo Hotel, Deanery Court, Ocean Village and the RedJet terminal at Town Quay, taking patients to University Hospital Southampton (UHS).Wessex Cancer Support said: "We're sad about the decision to stop the Southampton Daisy Bus, but the decision was made with our NHS partners after exploring other options for future funding."We have had external funding... which has unfortunately now stopped."A similar Daisy Bus service, connecting Portsmouth's ferry terminal with the Queen Alexandra Hospital, will continue for the time Belgrove, from Freshwater on the Isle of Wight, used the Portsmouth service in 2017 during his radiotherapy and said the buses were an "essential" service for people on the island undergoing treatment on the mainland."They are a lifesaver. Getting public transport would be lengthy and taxis are expensive," he island patient, Rex Goldsmith, said: "It's is not just a transport service, it is a lifeline and an essential social meeting place."You get to know the other passengers – you become great friends and you support each other."The buses are run jointly by Wessex Cancer Support and local NHS trusts in Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.A joint statement said the Southampton Daisy Bus had "provided vital transport for cancer patients from Jersey, and some patients from the Isle of Wight, travelling to UHS for cancer treatment". "This service has provided valued support to many patients but is not an NHS-funded service," it added that support for travelling patients remained available through NHS schemes for those who met eligibility include the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) and access to Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS). You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
