From Dave Kiely, chairman, Isle of Wight Prostate Cancer Support Group, Brading:

I was extremely disappointed to read the official response from the Isle of Wight Council to its decision to cut the fund which provides support for patients attending cancer treatment on the mainland (CP, 09-03-18).

The response is, in fact, very misleading. It suggests it is the NHS’s responsibility to cover patient travel costs, not the council’s.

CP readers will, however, recall when the Daisy Bus, (the transport link between the hovercraft and the Queen Alexandra Hospital) used by these same cancer patients, was threatened with closure, the NHS then said, ‘We have no statutory responsibility tor patient travel’.

Is this some game of political hide and seek that is being played by the council and the NHS? They cannot both be right.

Then again, the council claims the funding is not provided by any other local council. Cllr Mosdell is quoted as saying, ‘Nationally, councils have no responsibility for funding NHS patient travel and we may be unique among councils in doing so.’

In fact, this is not the case anywhere except on mainland Britain.

If one looks at the islands dotted around mainland Britain one finds patient travel is subsidised by the local authority.

There appears to be a recognition in the Channel Islands, the Scilly Isles and the Western Isles that living on an island does and should make a difference and not just to those patients who are on state benefits.

It seems the Isle of Wight Council ignores the fact we are an island when it suits it.

Hiding behind regulations, which were written in large part for mainland Britain, is just not good enough.

The regulations referred to allow for exemptions; the Scilly Isles is specifically mentioned in this respect.

Why choose to reverse an established practice which is in keeping with the interpretation of other islands?

A relevant question today is why was the practice of supporting patient travel introduced in the first place? Presumably there were good reasons for introducing it, so what has changed?

We have had tough economic conditions before, surely that cannot be used as an explanation in itself. It seems clear to any local historian that a major factor in the introduction of reimbursement was an acknowledgement we are an island. That has seemingly not changed.

The council has also directed attention to the NHS scheme which allows the reimbursement of fares to people on benefit.

This is true it does apply to Island residents but it is a scheme which was largely written for mainland Britain.

The cost of cross-Solent travel is a considerable sum for Island residents whether they be on benefits or not.

Most of our members receiving cancer treatment are on pensions. The cost of travel for radiotherapy treatment amounts to roughly 40 per cent of a monthly state pension on the hovercraft, when one factors in the cost of getting to the hovercraft it is closer to 50 per cent.

Is the Isle of Wight Council saying this is an acceptable situation? The existing legislation does not adequately cover this situation, that is another reason why the Isle of Wight Council agreed to set up this reimbursement in the first place.