A taskforce will be created by the Isle of Wight Council to address the transport issues facing people who have to travel to the mainland for treatment.
There are problems which fail to be addressed, said the council’s health and scrutiny committee meeting yesterday (Monday).
The Isle of Wight Council recently announced those travelling to the mainland would be able to park in 2 car parks for free in Ryde and Yarmouth but had to claim the money back later.
Darren Cattell, interim chief executive of the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said the move was a step forward but not the final one. He said the trust will do everything it can to ensure Islanders receive treatment in the right place and if that is on the mainland, they get part of their fare back.
One of the reasons people to choose to have their treatment on the Island, Mr Cattell said, was due to issues with travel but in the long run, a relatively modest investment to improve patient transport may improve more people’s health as they would be willing to travel.
Councillor Clare Mosdell had concerns about the scheme however as it only involved 2 council car parks and nothing for patients travelling to Southampton via Cowes or East Cowes.
Councillor Richard Quigley said the intent of the council’s scheme was good but a bit of a faff to claim the money back.
Cabinet member for adult social care, Councillor Karl Love said there was still a lot to do to make it better and it requires more investment but they seemed to be going round in circles, which needed to be broken.
Interim chief executive Wendy Perera said it was an area that would merit a closer look at as things have changed since it was last examined.
Councillor Michael Lilley said there were anomalies and inequalities in the current transport system, including the lack of late-night ferries, which can be a focus of the taskforce.
More jobs for the councillors to do, JUST BUILD ANOTHER HOSPITAL. Stop thinking about giving more cash to the ferry companies. If people have to travel to a hospital it should be FREE, simple. Part of the fare back, haha, that won’t happen ever.
There can be a hosptial the size of Newport built, how are you going to staff it considering no one wants to work here.
Yes, this has nothing whatsoever to do with easing the financial pressure for those of us who need to travel for treatment, it’s all about easing the pressure on St. Mary’s Hospital. We NEED a bigger Hospital.
Totally agree claiming money back is a faff also these people needing to travel for treatment will be off work and in many cases will only receive little or no sick pay ,if self employed etc , wouldn’t it be easier to give the patients a pass of some sort
the reason there are no late night fastcats is because the only people on them are drunks who abuse the staff… I used to finish late at work occasionally in the past and those late cats were awful….loud obnoxious drunks
With the residency of the island rising as it is maybe its time to look at a major major upgrade and rebuild of our own hospital to include what the travelling is for then there’s no need to travel or a task force.
Unfortunately building a bigger hospital is not the problem, the main issue is the specialist DRs Consultants the work load isn’t what I call leading care budget restrictions no high flying DR is going to get the specialist training here when a university hospital is in Southampton with technology and finances to run it. Unfortunately St Mary’s gets stroke care old age issues and heart problems. I myself come under Southampton for all my cancer related care yes I pay travel currently reduced ferry but taxi and car parking I pay and it costs £50 due to needing my partner to attend due to being under sedation.
The NHS should be coughing up more plain and simple. On the mainland there are new surgery hubs and diagnostic facilities that have been popping up to clear NHS waiting backlogs. Assuming this new capacity isn’t coming to the Island, the least they can do is fund travel to these places on the mainland.
Time to build a tunnel. If needed NHS Patient Transport could drive patients to the hospitals without ferry costs, also people could drive across at their own free will, and not be like prisoners here being told when we can and cannot travel to mainland. Over 140,000, residents, many of which have to rely on the ferries saying when they can commute, then the ferries are late or do not turn up at all, and charging super high prices. What kind of life is that for anyone ? Being told when and what time you can travel and charge no set rate but a made up fare for that date.. Why are we treated like children ?
you choose to live on an island – act like an adult and move then instead of whining like a six year old.
Typical islander comment, happy to live on an outdated substandard island. Some of us have been trying to leave for a number of years only to be let down by islanders who don’t know the property selling and purchase system. A tunnel when built will instantly bring businesses to the island more employment therefore more money into the high streets. St Mary’s is a good hospital but lacks a cardiac ward with treatment for heart surgery. The reason for the lack of surgeons and nurses on the island is because the are better off moon lighting into the private sector.
moonlighting has nothing to do with an island – it is the personal choice of an individual.
trying to leave for a number of years – yeah right – funny how so many others manage it – the ferries are running, houses are selling – you just don’t want to leave, because it is cheaper here due to the lack of a tunnel
a tunnel won’t bring business to the island – as the ferries already do a great job and nearly all the main players in retail are here already
your argument doesn’t stack up – clearly you knew there was no bridge or tunnel when you moved here -so don’t complain now ..your fault, your problem, your choice
100% agree
100% agree
BUILD A TUNNEL many smaller UK Islands have either tunnel of bridge.. 140,000+ people here stranded, at the ferries mercy… and you want to build thousands of more homes…. WHY ? They will not be able to afford to cross the Solent..
You ask why, no doubt there will be a few comments saying ‘If you don’t like living on an island then move to the mainland.’ It’s all the nimby’s and retired that move over here to escape the mainland and think they’ve left it all behind, the crime the thuggery etc, they don’t or won’t see it’s already here, that strip of water hasn’t stopped it like the think it has. Time for a tunnel and the 21st century to come to the island or we will end up one massive retirement home.
Yes yes yes
Usual skewed thinking from IWC. Why am I not surprised. If a costly time consuming task force was ever needed (it isn’t) then it should be tasked with how to provide treatment ON the Island NOT off it.
Cannot get the doctors, dentists or specialists to come over here, BUILD A TUNNEL and then we will have plenty of doctors, nurses, dentists ….
With more of us having to go to the mainland in the future for medical services because they are not available here on the island, the ferry and the parking should be free. The doctor/hospital should be able to issue the person with something that can be produced at ferry and car park to authorise both. Along with the anxiety of travelling when either in pain or going for an appointment for something major, claiming back parking etc: is an extra stress that people do not need.
Unfortunately, building another hospital won’t cure the fact that we do not have enough doctors or other staff to run it which is sad.
Just BUILD A TUNNEL… then we will have many doctors, etc coming to our hospital….
You have to pay to travel to st marys and why should the ferry companies be expected to give free travel – they are businesses with staff to pay – those staff are paid from ticket revenue – why should they be expected to accept lower pay, due to less revenue, because of all the freeloading that goes on.
You really are one sick puppy. The last thing people need right now is the worry of extra expense having to travel to a hospital on the mainland for life saving treatment. Travelling from say, Ryde to St Marys is chicken feed compared to the rip off ferry prices, why don’t you just f’ing grow up and stop p’ing people off all the time. Hope you never get really ill and need to travel on the ferry, just remember, you might be working now, and feel financially able to afford it, but if you get ill, you can’t work and money is tight. Think a bit bit deeper than the end of your nose.
Freeloading?? , in excess of £300 in ferry fares to and from Southampton in 6 weeks for medical appointments and treatments that St Mary’s hospital are unable to provide.
Not asking for anything free however a genuine and worth while NHS patient treatment discount scheme would help immensely, especially during some of the worst emotional and financial times people have to face.
But that’s the same UK wide, as one with relatives in various Deots of NHS England, pay them more offer a good package with modern thinking and a new hospital would soon be staffed, not necessarily a whole hospital new Cancer care units and Cardiac units, St Mary’s has unused grounds, and if the homes for staff package comes off more staff will be inclined to stay/live here.. Times, are changing throwing money at it with stupid “task forces projects” are not way forward, get off your arses, Councillor ‘s go ask the public who voted you in, and live here what we want… Tunnel malarky? Give it up we will all be 6ft under by the time it ever came off, the problems need sorting now in our lifetimes!.
I had to travel to Southampton when I was pregnant for surgery – I went from our hospital to there and I have to say that it was a lot better equipped. It had more up to date technology for starters. While I appreciate the attempt by the council to assist with travelling over the water I don’t think that it really is a sensible solution in the long term, especially with more people moving here.
What a daft scheme. Imagine someone going over the water regularly for treatment? Far better to give those people a window sticker with end date or a day sticker. The current proposal just hammers the sick with bureaucracy.
Build a tunnel to Jersey, they have a great hospital and very low crime.