PATIENTS and close relatives who regularly travel to and from the Island for hospital and hospice visits, could be eligible for discounted travel.
From April 1, ferry operator Red Funnel is set to introduce a new discount travel scheme, which will give a 25 per cent saving on its car ferry service to and from East Cowes and Southampton.
Full details of how the scheme will operate together with the eligibility rules will be published towards the end of March. To receive this information customers can register their interest by sending their contact details to hospitalvisits@redfunnel.co.uk
James Fulford, CEO, said: "Hopefully this new scheme will reduce the travel costs and relieve some of the stress and anguish for patients and close relatives. Vehicle fares with Red Funnel start at £32 return meaning that with the 25 per cent discount, customers can travel from as little as £24 return."
From late March, further information will be published on the Red Funnel website at www.redfunnel.co.uk
The scheme has been praised by David Floody, who lives in Southampton and regularly visits his mother-in- law at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.
"The scheme is great and I think Red Funnel deserves commending for this.
"It will help people like myself who are making regular trips to visit my mother-in-law at the hospice, who is terminally ill.
"It will also help people who are struggling financially as well."
A spokesman for the primary care trust said: "This is excellent news for patients and close relatives and will reduce the burden on them when they are referred across The Solent for more specialised medical care. We look forward to discussing the detail with Red Funnel and helping them to develop the scheme."
Meanwhile, talks are still continuing with the IW NHS and Wightlink about a discount travel scheme on its ferry services for patients who travel to the mainland for treatment.
Reporter: jamiew@iwcpmail.co.uk