The government says the company that’s taken over the task of driving Manx patients from airports to hospitals in England has passed a three-month trial.

ComCab will continue to provide the patient transfer service after successfully completing the probation period.

Bridgewater Taxis, which used to have the contract, was popular among many patients and there was a lot of concern when it lost the contract in March.

An online petition gathered well over 2,000 signatures in support of retaining Bridgewater. The issue was also raised in the House of Keys.

Bridgewater lost the contract because ComCab, which is based in Liverpool, said it would do the job for £30,000 less every year, so saving taxpayers’ money.

The Department of Health and Social Care says that concentration on performance, a willingness to listen and adapt to patients’ needs, and a reduction in the number of complaints led to a positive probationary review and the decision that it will continue to provide the service.

The majority of complaints received about ComCab by the DHSC related to the type of vehicle used, black Hackney cabs in particular.

The company has a range of vehicles in its fleet other than black cabs, and feedback about them from passengers has been ’positive’, the DHSC said.

Patients are being encouraged to be specific when booking travel in order for the most appropriate vehicle to be made available to them.

Further issues relating to the level of assistance being offered by drivers, choice of routes and pick up points have also been addressed with the island-based patient transfer team and ComCab working together to establish effective procedures.

Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft MHK said: ’The department understands there was some concern when ComCab first took over the contract, but officers have been impressed by the way the company has listened to those complaints, taken action and made improvements.

’We will continue to listen to people’s concerns and carry on monitoring performance and patient experience.’