Latest news with #EmilyHoban
ITV News
2 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
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Southampton Daisy Bus for cancer patients 'not value for money'
A shuttlebus that takes patients undergoing cancer treatment to and from hospital in Southampton is "not the best value for money", the Government of Jersey 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 Government of Jersey said it was withdrawing funding as falling numbers of patients from Jersey meant it was costing £60 per passenger journey - significantly more than a taxi service, operated by Wessex Cancer Support and local NHS trusts is due to end on 20 August. The bus currently 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).A similar Daisy Bus service, connecting Portsmouth's ferry terminal with the Queen Alexandra Hospital, will continue for the time buses are run jointly by Wessex Cancer Support and local NHS trusts in Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, but are not funded by the bulk of its funding was a £56,600 grant allocated by Health and Care Jersey (HCJ). 'Valuable service' HCJ's head of access, Emily Hoban, said there had been a "notable decline" in patients from Jersey using the said the bus had provided "an excellent and valuable service" for Jersey patients but was costing "significantly more" than the £19 an average taxi ride was costing."The Daisy Bus operates on a scheduled timetable and outside these times taxis are provided for patients, which is an additional cost."The decision was made to discontinue the service following a review which found that it was not the best value for money."She said Jersey patients would not be affected by the end of the bus service as taxis would be booked and paid for by from the Isle of Wight who had also used the buses, have described them as an "essential" service for anyone on the island undergoing cancer treatment on the mainland.A joint statement from Wessex Cancer Support and NHS trusts earlier this week said 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.
