A POPULAR bus service used by Islanders, which takes cancer patients to and from Southampton Hospital, has been saved after a campaign led by Isle of Wight residents.
The Daisy Bus had looked set to be axed after the Government of Jersey withdrew funding for the service.
The Health Department confirmed the decision to discontinue the service was made following a review which found that the £56,000-per-year bus “was not the best value for money”.
Instead, Jersey patients were reassured that alternative arrangements would be put in place, including taxis booked and paid for directly by Health and Care Jersey’s Travel Office.
However, some Isle of Wight patients formed the “Save the Daisy Bus” campaign and have confirmed that the service will remain operational, thanks to donations and volunteers.
Isle of Wight resident Michèle Le Quesne Newton created the ‘Save the Daisy Bus’ group after concerns were raised regarding the fate of her fellow islanders who rely on the service to access their cancer treatment on the mainland.
She said: “With our current ferry situation, it is already tricky to get across to Southampton and then have to source a taxi (average cost £15 each way) to attend chemotherapy/radiotherapy is just another hardship that these dear people shouldn’t have to go through.
“I know that there’s a bus service, but for the immune-suppressed patient, this should not even be an option.”
“The Daisy bus is so much more than transport – it’s a community.”
The JustGiving page that was launched by the group has received almost 200 donations, raising over £7,000.
In an announcement on social media, the group said: “Thanks to your incredible support, generous donations, and the amazing help of Dan and Sally at Xelacoach, we’re delighted to announce that the Daisy Bus service will continue without interruption.”
