By Carole Dennett
Cancer patients from the Island, who are referred to Southampton University Hospital for treatment, are being urged to ask their GP or hospital team for a referral to the NHS Non-Emergency Patient Transport Scheme (NEPTS) to help them deal with the cost and complexity of mainland travel.
The call comes as the future of the Southampton Daisy Bus – a free service available since 2001 – hangs in the balance. The service will no longer be funded after Wednesday (August 20), which could leave Island patients facing expensive and exhausting journeys to access life-saving care.
IW West MP, Richard Quigley, said: “Travel to Southampton Hospital is both expensive and time-consuming. We need the Daisy Bus – and urgent efforts are being made to save it – but in the meantime, patients must let the ICB know what they need. Ask your GP or consultant to refer you for Non-Emergency Patient Transport. I am asking the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to look sympathetically on such requests, and would like to hear if they are refused – so that I can look into it.”
The NHS NEPTS is designed to support patients who are unable to travel independently, due to medical or mobility issues. Those who have a condition that prevents them from using public or private transport, or who require specialist support during travel, may qualify. The ICB can also add extra qualifying conditions, such as the distance, time or cost of travel to reach treatment, which Mr Quigley is urging them to do. The service is also available to patients attending NHS-funded outpatient appointments, but it is not automatically offered. A referral must be made by a healthcare professional, usually a GP or hospital consultant.
Island campaigners are also urging residents to ask for help. With the Daisy Bus under threat, it is more important than ever that patients know what services are available and use them. Michele Newton, the chairman of the Save the Daisy Bus Appeal, said: “This is about making sure no one misses treatment because they can’t get there. We need to make the case clearly and collectively – and that starts with patients asking for what they need. We are working to develop both short and long-term plans to ensure the Daisy Bus Service continues, but the ICB needs to know what the needs of Island patients are.”
A spokesman from Hampshire & Isle of Wight ICB said that they were working closely with Southampton Hospital and other partners to make sure that patients were supported. She added: “NHS-funded patient transportation is there to support residents when it is considered essential to ensuring an individual’s safety, safe mobilisation, condition management or recovery. Patients registered with an Isle of Wight GP practice may be eligible for NHS-funded Non-Emergency Patient Transport.”
Further information about the Isle of Wight’s non-emergency patient transport service is available via iw.observer/nepts. Cancer patients who believe they may be eligible should speak to their GP or hospital team as soon as possible.
Mal Butler