Bridge the Gap will make a presentation regarding Patient Transfer Issues at the June meeting of the Council of Voluntary Organisations.

The presentation will be followed by discussions to be sure that the needs of all patients who need to travel off island for medical treatment will be taken into consideration when working towards potential improvements. Any charities, which are not members of the CVO but would like to attend should contact BtG as invitations can be arranged. Individuals wishing to have issues included in discussions should also contact BtG.

Further information

Through research and experience, BtG is aware that there is the potential to improve patient transfer when teenagers and young patients have to travel off island for medical treatment. The issues identified are certainly not specific to teenagers and young people and so earlier this year BtG met with TravelWatch Isle of Man and at their suggestion compiled a ‘Patient Transfer Presentation’, which highlights difficulties faced and suggestions of improvements for off island patient transfers.

Subsequent meetings with the Council of Cancer Charities (CCC) confirmed that cancer patients had also raised some of the issues identified in the document and that the CCC is also keen to work towards improvements.

BtG and the CCC will now take the document to a wider audience and we are very pleased that the subject of the Council of Voluntary Organisations (CVO) monthly meeting in June will be ‘Off Island Patient Transfers’. When further issues and suggested improvements have been identified these will be added to the TravelWatch document, ensuring the needs of as wide a range of patients as possible are included.

BtG have been invited by TravelWatch to make a short contribution to their autumn public meeting at the Villa Marina in October and we hope that the revised document can be presented to TravelWatch before this time.

The CVO meeting will be held on Tuesday 21st June at Marsham Court, Victoria Avenue, Douglas and is open to representatives from all charities on the island wishing to be part of the discussions. The purpose of the meeting is to ensure the off island transfer needs of all patients are understood.

Coffee will be served from 5.30pm and the meeting, which starts at 6pm, includes a presentation followed by discussion.
Individuals who would like issues included in discussions should either contact a relevant charity or email contact@bridgethegap.im.

Charities that are not members of the CVO, but that wish to receive an invitation to this meeting, should also contact this email address.