Funding for patients travelling to the mainland for medical treatment could be cut as the Isle of Wight council issues a dire warning about its finances.
In previous years, the authority has given £60,000 a year to the Isle of Wight NHS Trust to help fund the travel scheme for cancer patients.
The scheme has been running for 16 years, providing reimbursement of ferry costs, but cabinet member for adult social care Cllr Karl Love has issued a severe warning it could be axed.
Love: Significant cost pressures to adult social care
Speaking at the Isle of Wight Council’s health and social care scrutiny committee last night (Monday), Cllr Love said the council had been happy to support the scheme previously, but looking forward, the cost pressures to adult social care were so significant that the scheme is under consideration of being cut.
He said,
“It may only be in the region of £60,000 but it is against a budget deficit of millions and we are facing real issues about that.”
Love: We need to be clear it’s at risk
Cllr Love said he knew as soon as the scheme came under consideration there would be a significant wave of feeling from people using it, but the council needed to be clear it was at risk.
The council, he said, gives the funding voluntarily, but was mindful of the knock-on effect it would have on the NHS down the line it if was withdrawn.
Patient transport task force launched
A patient transport task force has been launched, created to address the issues facing those who have to travel to the mainland for treatment.
The task force is set to meet later this week after winter pressures saw the first meeting cancelled.
Churchman: Ignores the enormous amount of travelling
Cllr Vanessa Churchman said it was
“All very well everything being centralised, but it totally ignores the enormous amount of travelling everyone has to do.”
Claim back parking costs
The Isle of Wight council also runs a scheme where those parking in specific car parks in Ryde and Yarmouth, who are travelling for medical treatment, can claim the cost back.
The authority has recently warned of the pressures it will face setting a budget next year and the need to fill a £22 million hole.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
