New call for free flights for companions of patients being treated away from Jersey
, 2022-12-06 05:24:31,
ADDITIONAL funding should be made available to cover flight costs for travel companions for those receiving medical treatment outside of the Island, according to a Reform Jersey politician.
Deputy Rob Ward is calling for an extra £734,000 to be transferred to the Health Department from existing government budgets to expand the travel policy.
Currently those who qualify for travel costs include patients:
In an amendment to the Government Plan, Deputy Ward said: ‘When we travel for health care, scans, surgery or other needs there is always an uncertainty of the outcome.
‘Be it a reaction to medicines or anaesthetic. A reaction to bad news from a scan, or simply the anxiety associated with hospital care that some experience. Having a family member or trusted friend [present] provides essential support. This amendment seeks to increase this provision and look to provide the best and most value-for-money way of providing for the cost.’
Earlier this year, Deputy Ward revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and at the time thanked Health Minister Karen Wilson for allowing his wife to travel with him.
Deputy Wilson, in response to a written States question earlier this year, said that she was ‘exploring changes to the existing policy’ and added that she had instructed health officials to look into whether all requirements related to travel companions could be removed.
In his amendment,…
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