Patients across the Island who qualify for free travel to the airport for flights to the UK for hospital appointments will be booked on a dedicated bus vannin service from next week.
Since August 2018 patients living in postcodes IM7 and IM8 and qualifying for free on-Island transport to and from the airport, have been collected and dropped off by bus. From 6 May, the service will extend to the whole of the Island, providing convenient, reliable, cost effective and environmentally friendly public transport for all patients who previously qualified for free transfer by taxi. Journeys will continue to be booked via the patient transfer team at Noble’s Hospital.
The service is designed so that patients’ journeys to and from Ronaldsway are booked in advance, with routes and pick-up times planned around the needs of passengers day to day.
The venture is a cross-government initiative and is designed to fulfil a number of aims in the Programme for Government, including providing transport that meets the social and economic needs of communities, and modern public services in the right place.
Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford said:
‘bus vannin’s service is proving a popular and practical way to ensure patients arrive at the airport in good time for their transfer flights to the UK. Our colleagues at bus vannin understand the needs of patients who face a long and often stressful day. As well as providing door-to-door pick up and drop-off in comfortable vehicles, they’re offering an excellent level of customer service, which is much appreciated.’
Those patients who don’t qualify for on-Island free travel and who live north of Peel, St John’s and Baldrine inclusive, can make use of the connectPORTS service by calling +44 1624 697440 up to the day before their travel.
