An online petition has been launched to oppose the Conservative Council’s plans to end the Cross-Solent Travel scheme which supports free travel for seriously ill patients attending appointments on the mainland.
Created by Steve Gibbs, the petition reads:
“We the general public are incensed that the Isle of Wight Council are even considering cutting the free travel for NHS patients across the Solent.
We the public feel that the extra pressure this will put on patients and their families both physically and financially and when they are at there lowest.
It is unacceptable to us. The Isle of Wight council must now use common sense and drop the idea to avoid the NHS patients having extra anxiety.”
You can see the petition over on the Change.org Website. At time of publishing the petition had 375 signatures.
Council Consultation
As part of the Isle of Wight council’s attempts to fill a £5.5m budget gap next year, they have launched a consultation on future of the Cross Solent Travel Scheme.
Cllr Clare Mosdell says scheme is currently allocated £60,000 per year. It’s a discretionary, non-means tested measure providing financial support to NHS patients travelling to the mainland to receive specific treatments for chemotherapy, radiotherapy or renal dialysis.
