Hans Bromwich, Cowes:

Exorbitant transport costs add to already heightened levels of anxiety for many patients needing to travel to the mainland for NHS treatment, whilst for others who are perhaps feeling under the weather, it is the convoluted journey to unfamiliar hospitals on the city outskirts of Southampton or Portsmouth that is stressful and physically debilitating.

I wonder how many frail elderly islanders withdraw from treatment, and become an invisible statistic, simply because they have deciding the journey is too much to bear?

NHS patients should not be disenfranchised because they live on the Isle of Wight.

Travel shouldn’t be subsidised, it should be free for all NHS patients along with accompanying carers/relatives.

If we can repatriate holidaymakers who fall ill on the island to wherever they live in the UK, sometimes as far away as Scotland, at no cost to the patient, then we can also provide free transport for Islanders needing to travel to the mainland for NHS treatment. 

There are other issues that need addressing.

Patients receiving cancer treatment who have a suppressed immune system are very vulnerable to infection.

It is simply unacceptable to force them to mix with members of the public on ferry crossings, or on public transport to and from mainland hospitals.

Special provision needs to be made for this category of patient.

There has been much talk recently about the new hospital wards built in Portsmouth, providing 72 beds paid for by the Island, supposedly to accommodate Island NHS patients.

It is important these hospital beds are available for post operative recovery, because if complications arise Island patient needs to be in the mainland hospital with the specialist expertise that can address any urgent issues.

Being discharged too early back to the Island where there isn’t the specialist support is foolhardy. 

The Island community has a right to know that any changes to the way NHS services are being delivered have been properly thought through, with firm assurances that patients well-being, both physically and emotionally, are the only governing criteria.  

Let’s be clear, a bish, bash, bosh, fix’em up, and kick ‘em out NHS model might seem attractive given political pressures to reduce long patient waiting lists, but it is likely to be a recipe for disaster for our Island community.

IW NHS Trust CEO Darren Cattell is quoted as saying: "It wasn't necessary to consult - this was a management decision, we will consult with members of the public if appropriate."

This illustrates all that is wrong. When is it not appropriate to consult members of the public?

Let’s not forget Mr Cattell, you and your executive colleagues are there to serve the public, no one else.