The Department of Health is pleased to confirm that early morning and evening flights to Liverpool operated by Flybe, which are essential for patients travelling to hospital appointments in the North West of England, are continuing.
Flybe’s service to Liverpool is particularly important as it includes a contract with the Department of Health for the transfer of patients who require specialist healthcare in the North West of England. Today, the Department can confirm that Flybe has agreed to overnight-stop aircraft and crews to enable them to meet the travel needs of Island patients.
Earlier this year, the Department welcomed the announcement from Flybe of its ongoing commitment to the Liverpool service. Uncertainty about the route and the early morning flight to Liverpool came as a result of Flybe’s decision to close its on-Island operational base along with five others around the UK.
Minister for Health, Hon Howard Quayle MHK, said:
“The Department have continued to work with Flybe in the run up to the closure of their on-Island base to secure the schedule including the early morning flight, which means that patients can arrive for their appointments at North West hospitals in good time.
“The flights are, however, always busy and we would remind patients that they should arrange their flights with the Patient Transfer Team as soon as they receive their appointment letter from the UK.”
