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Optio Voluntary Car Service is a membership scheme for the elderly and frail which operates with volunteer drivers using their own vehicles to take passengers to pre-booked destinations. These are often for medical appointments but can also be for other reasons.
Annual membership is £40 per person or £60 per household couple. Renewable annually on 1st September.
- There is a mileage charge of 45p per mile, paid directly to the volunteer driver, who will provide you with a receipt for the cost of the trip A minimum charge of £3.00 per trip (e.g. journey under 6 miles)
- Mileage costs are calculated from the driver’s home and return.
- Accompanying carers do not pay membership fees.
Visit website www.communityactionisleofwight.org.uk
Discounts are available on both Wightlink and Red Funnel servces to Portsmouth and Southampton for patients and one accompanying adult. In the case of children provision is made for two accompanying adults. Enquire at the booking office when travelling and produce your appointment card or letter to enable you to get your discount. A discount has also been negotiated with Hovertravel to Southsea.To access this discount you must show evidence of your appointment and a completed request form which can be downloaded
Cross Solent Travel - Wessex Cancer Trust offer Daisy Bus transport assistance to the QA, Portsmouth and SGH, Southampton hospitals. The Portsmouth Bus meets the Hovertravel hovercraft at Southsea and the Southampton Bus meets the Red Jet or the car ferry in Southampton. If there’s adverse weather and the hovercraft is cancelled, the Daisy Bus will meet the Wightlink Fast Cat service. We are currently asking those who enquire to contact the relevant driver themselves to share their travel plans. The drivers will have the most up to date information on how they’re adapting to limited/altered ferry timetables. Here’s the link to the Daisy Bus timetables and a copy of each timetable which are on the website.
The driver’s phone numbers are there too:https://www.wessexcancer.org.uk/Pages/Category/transport
You will need to know that each operator offers special return fares for Island residents attending hospital appointments on the mainland.
Here’s how to qualify for the reduced fare (£10.40 return) with Hovertravel:www.hovertravel.co.uk/hovercare-travel-scheme/
And the same info (£10.60 return) for Red funnel:https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/en/isle-of-wight-ferry/fares/ferry-passenger-fares-to-southampton/healthcare-travel-scheme/
Parking - For those using the Red Jet we are lucky to be able to offer two car parking spaces at Cowes Harbour Commission. Call the Harbour Commission on 01983 293952 to enquire about availability.
Red Funnel also offer some limited parking for those attending hospital appointments.
Get the client to make their own enquiry direct on 01983 292704 and Northwood House offer 4 free from charge parking spaces for any NHS patient travelling across the Solent for treatment.
Call Cowes Town Council to arrange a space on 01983 209022.
Unfortunately, there’s no such arrangements for those using the Hovercraft.