Red Funnel Launch New Fare Guarantee To Support Island Patients

Red Funnel has introduced a new fare guarantee to support Isle of Wight residents travelling to NHS appointments on the mainland.

The new Flexible Returns Policy ensures that if a patient needs to change their return journey – whether due to delays or finishing earlier than expected – they can travel on the next available sailing without incurring any additional charges, even if it falls during a higher fare sailing.

This applies upon proof of travel for an NHS appointment.

The change was prompted following customer feedback, which provided insight into experiences of those returning from hospital appointments.

In response, Red Funnel has acted to provide greater reassurance and flexibility for patients, ensuring they can return home without additional stress following a potentially challenging day.

The ferry operator is also reaffirming its commitment to supporting Island residents attending NHS appointments on the mainland by highlighting the range of discounted travel options available.

Passengers travelling to hospital appointments on foot can access special discounted fares of £12.80 return (also appliable to a companion), while those travelling with a car benefit from a 50% discount or a fare cap of £31 per leg, whichever is lower.

Where a carer is required for a foot passenger to travel, the carer can also travel free. (For details, see online.) These measures are designed to reduce the cost burden of essential healthcare-related travel and to provide customers with greater choice and flexibility.

Neil Chapman, Director of Operations for Red Funnel, said:

“We are committed to supporting Islanders and ensuring that essential journeys for NHS care are as affordable and stress-free as possible. We are especially grateful one of our customers for sharing their experience with us and made us reflect on how we could do more.

"Their feedback directly inspired this change, and we hope it will now make the return journey home easier, more predictable, and worry-free.”

Red Funnel is also reminding patients of the onward hospital connections available to them, including:

• Patients travelling by bus from the Isle of Wight to Southampton General or Royal South Hants hospitals can purchase a Freedom or Rover ticket from Southern Vectis and use it for travel with Bluestar or Unilink on the mainland.

• Those travelling to Southampton General Hospital can walk a short distance from the ferry terminals to the Platform Tavern bus stop to use the Bluestar 19 or 19a (heading towards Lordshill). Alternatively, they can catch the Quayconnect bus to Holyrood Church to connect with Bluestar 17 from the same stop.

• When travelling to Royal South Hants (RSH) Hospital, they can also catch the Quayconnect bus to Central Station and connect with Unilink U6.

Red Funnel has also pledged to support the Daisy Bus service, which provided free transport from the Southampton terminal to local hospitals for cancer patients but was recently withdrawn due to funding.

The ferry operator will be providing free ferry travel for volunteer drivers and free parking for the bus in Southampton, once the service is up and running again. Donations to support the Daisy Bus campaign can be made via justgiving.com/crowdfunding/savethedaisybus

More information on patient travel can be found here: https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/isle-of-wight-ferry/plan/fares/healthcare-travel