Ending of Funds results in returns of hospital shuttlebus
(MENAFN) A free shuttle service transporting cancer patients from the Isle of Wight to Southampton hospitals has resumed following a successful fundraising campaign.
Earlier this year, Wessex Cancer Support’s Daisy Bus service was discontinued after its funding ran out. In response, a community interest company (CIC) was established on the Isle of Wight to operate a revamped Daisy Ring Bus, supported by volunteer drivers and ferry operator Red Funnel.
The CIC emphasized that the service enables patients to navigate “one of the hardest journeys of their lives.” The original Daisy Bus helped patients from both the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands travel for treatment and stay in Southampton hotels. Island patients described it as an “essential” service for accessing mainland cancer care.
In August, Jersey’s government announced it would withdraw funding because a reduced number of patients made the cost per passenger journey around $80.27 —far higher than a standard taxi fare.
Following the fundraising drive, the CIC maintained the service temporarily using a minibus taxi. The new Daisy Ring Bus is now set to operate five times daily between the Leonardo Hotel and Town Quay, providing transport to University Hospital Southampton (UHS). Red Funnel is housing the vehicle and covering travel for volunteer drivers commuting daily to the mainland.
On its website, the CIC highlighted the service’s importance, stating:
"It's not just the treatment that's tough, it's the travel. The cost, the stress, and the sheer exhaustion can make an already difficult time feel overwhelming. Our bus isn't just a vehicle.
It's a lifeline. It offers patients safe, reliable transport, free of charge - and with it, a sense of dignity, community, and care."
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