Patients who qualify for free travel to the airport for flights to the UK for hospital appointments will be booked on a bus service from next week.

Since August 2018 patients living in postcodes IM7 and IM8 - covering the north of the island - and qualifying for free on-island transport to and from the airport, have been collected and dropped off by bus.

From May 6, the service will extend to the whole of the island, providing transport for all patients who previously qualified for free transfer by taxi.

Journeys will continue to be booked via the patient transfer team at Noble’s Hospital.

Patients’ journeys to and from Ronaldsway are booked in advance, with routes and pick-up times planned around the needs of passengers day to day.

Minister for Health and Social Care David Ashford said: ’Bus Vannin’s service is proving a popular and practical way to ensure patients arrive at the airport in good time for their transfer flights to the UK.

’Our colleagues at Bus Vannin understand the needs of patients who face a long and often stressful day. As well as providing door-to-door pick up and drop-off in comfortable vehicles, they’re offering an excellent level of customer service, which is much appreciated.’

Those patients who don’t qualify for on-island free travel and who live north of Peel, St John’s and Baldrine inclusive, can make use of the service by calling 697440 up to the day before their travel.