Patients receiving care with the Jersey General Hospital will once again be able to transfer to UK hospitals on commercial flights, with bookings being made from 9 July onwards.
Chartered medical flights have been operating from Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic while restrictions on commercial travel were in place and to further reduce the risk of transmission for patients.
Robert Sainsbury, Group Managing Director, Health and Community Services, said: “The medical flights have each transferred a total of 18 patients, plus escorts, over the past 3 months and our patients have reportedly been very happy with the flight arrangements. Now that restrictions have eased and Jersey’s borders have reopened, it is safe to operate our patient transfer flights via commercial airlines again.”
Jersey patients travel to the UK to receive treatment in areas such as Paediatrics, Oncology, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, General surgery, Trauma and Orthopedics. Pre-COVID-19, approximately 5,000 commercial bookings for patient transfers were made per year.
Patients will be expected to follow airline and Government guidance for travelling including being tested for COVID-19 before travel. Advice will be given at the time of booking.