EasyJet and the Steam Packet Company will provide new options for patient transfer users affected by the loss of a Flybe flight.

We revealed in this week’s Examiner that Flybe had confirmed it will drop one flight a day from the island to Liverpool starting from April 1 as the route was not ’performing well enough’ to maintain two evening flights.

Concerns have been raised by members of the patient transfer Facebook group that the loss of the 3.55pm service from Ronaldsway and the 5.20pm return from Liverpool would lead to longer days for users of the service.

The Department of Health and Social Care has moved to allay those fears and noted that patient transfer users will be able to travel on either the 7pm flight or use one of the other options it will offer.

However, some of those options involve a trip to Manchester.

The new options for users of the service are on Monday and Tuesday, an EasyJet flight from Liverpool at 4.30pm; on Wednesday Flybe at 2.20pm (June to August) or from Manchester at 5.35pm when the 2.20pm from Liverpool is not available; and Thursday from Manchester at 5.35pm.

Fridays remain largely unchanged with Flybe still operating two evening flights to and from Liverpool and passengers will be able to return to the island at either 5.40pm or 8.10pm.

When the Manannan begins its summer service between the island and Liverpool, users of patient transfer will have the choice to travel using the Steam Packet rather than flying from Ronaldsway.

A DHSC spokesman said: ’Patient transfer is already making bookings using these options as and when appointments come in, and initial feedback is that the new times are more convenient for many patients.

’There is provision to provide financial assistance for overnight stays where this helps facilitate convenient travel times around early appointments.’

The provision of EasyJet providing some patient transfer flights had brought into question the contract between DHSC and Flybe for the airline to provide the island’s patient transfer service.

However, the DHSC insisted that under the terms of the agreement with Flybe, patients could use other forms of travel.

The spokesman said: ’The contract is not a block booking of seats, paid for "up front" as many people might assume.

’The contract is about the price charged for seats when they are used. The contract’s main provision and benefit is that it allows ultimate flexibility.’

Earlier this week, the Examiner reported that some members of the Isle of Man patient transfer group on Facebook had concerns over the changes to the flight times.

However, since the update from the DHSC, it has calmed those fears with some users saying it provided certainty over the choices available to users.

One user of the service said: ’It actually works better for me as I end up sitting about at Liverpool airport until 8pm when I go over.’

Despite this, there are those who will be impacted negatively, one member of the Facebook group said if their treatment lasted until early evening they would only just make the current 8pm flight.

The DHSC spokesman said: ’There is provision to provide financial assistance for overnight stays where this helps facilitate convenient travel times around early appointments.’