Local cancer patients have expressed disappointment over the announcement that a “lifeline” free shuttle bus service for islanders undergoing treatment in Southampton will cease operations later this month due to a funding shortfall.
The discontinuation of the Daisy Bus service was announced yesterday in a joint statement from Wessex Cancer Support, NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight NHS Trust, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
It said: “The Southampton Daisy Bus, delivered by University Hospital Southampton in partnership with Wessex Cancer Support and funded by the States of Jersey, has provided vital transport for cancer patients from Jersey, and some patients from the Isle of Wight, travelling to University Hospital Southampton for cancer treatment.
“This service has provided valued support to many patients but is not an NHS-funded service.”
The bus journey was a chance to discuss treatment and experiences with other people whilst travelling to the hospital
karl knight
The bus will cease operations on Tuesday 20 August.
Islander Jean Lelliott told Express that she used the service every day when she was receiving radiotherapy in Southampton.
“It was a fantastic service and totally invaluable for patients from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Wight,” she said.
“It was also a place where friendships were made as everyone was going through the same thing and helped each other.”
Another Jersey resident who used the Daisy Bus whilst undergoing off-island cancer treatment was Susan Foote.
“A lot of friendships were made on that journey,” she said.
Tracey Jeanne said the shuttle bus was an “absolute lifeline” she was having treatment in Southampton.
“Radiotherapy is exhausting and is often a treatment used on the back end of chemotherapy when you are already so fatigued and unwell from that,” she explained.
“Using taxis or [public] buses really isn’t viable when you can’t even think straight from all the treatments being thrown at you.
“Being with fellow patients for those journeys to and from the hospital – many of which were from Jersey themselves – really was the support we all needed.
“I really can’t understand how they can even be considering withdrawing this lifeline of a service to so many.”
We understand that the States of Jersey is making other arrangements for the patients from Jersey who require off-island cancer treatment
Wessex Cancer Support
Karl Knight, who has just returned to Jersey after six weeks of radiotherapy in Southampton, said the Daisy Bus was “invaluable”.
He said: “There is no way I could have coped with public transport so the only other way I could have made it into the hospital would have been taxis each way.”
Mr Knight added: “On top of that, the bus journey was also a chance to discuss treatment and experiences with other people whilst travelling to the hospital.
“On my first week or so I gained valuable insight on what was coming up from people who were further down the line with their radiotherapy.”
In response to queries from Express, charity Wessex Cancer Support said: “Funding for the Southampton Daisy Bus has come from the States of Jersey, as well as Jersey Cancer Trust and others over the past few years.
“We understand that the States of Jersey is making other arrangements for the patients from Jersey who require off-island cancer treatment, unfortunately we don’t have any further information about that.”
The Government of Jersey has been contacted for comment.