Jersey: Hospital patients let down by Blue Islands' cancellations
'Exception rather than norm'
A spokesperson from the airline said patient hospital travel was one of the most important services it provided for Jersey.The airline acknowledged the weekday morning flight from Jersey to Southampton was key to reaching hospital appointments.It said since the beginning of this year it had two cancellations on this service – one for technical reasons and one for crew sickness.Four more had been cancelled for weather reasons, the company said, and one when Jersey airport was closed due to a security alert.The airline said: "Although we know it will come as no consolation to those whose journeys and hospital visits were impacted, such events are the exception rather than the norm."
'Upset me a lot'
Jersey Hospital regularly sends patients to University Hospital Southampton for treatments it cannot provide on-island.When Mr Thompson's partner shared his experience with Blue Islands in a Facebook group, he was astonished by the number of people who replied with similar stories, dating back to 2018.Mr Thompson said it felt like the airline did not care.He said the cancellation cost him £140 in hotel and taxi costs, but what concerned him most was that he believed there were three other people on the flight due to have PET scans - for cancer diagnosis or monitoring.He said: "One of them was a really older gentleman so, for him, it would have been a hell of a long day. "When we were collecting the baggage from the baggage carousel, he shed a tear. "That upset me a lot."Mr Thompson is still waiting for the results of his PET scan and biopsy.
Four days after Mr Thompson's flight to Southampton was cancelled, Annette Jackson, travelling to get treatment for a degenerative eye condition, had a similar experience.She was booked on a 15:00 BST flight the afternoon before an appointment in Southampton when her flight was cancelled. She was put on a flight scheduled to leave three hours later, but it was delayed until 20:30 BST."I got to Southampton at 10 o'clock at night when I should have been there at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, very tired, very exhausted," she said.Mrs Jackson said Blue Islands claimed the flight was cancelled because of technical issues."They'd shoved us all on to the later flight, which was full and the same coming back," she said.Blue Islands said it did not cancel flights at the last minute due to passenger numbers.It said this not only impacted customers but came with significant financial costs.
'Very traumatic'
Mrs Jackson said it could be "very traumatic" to spend five hours in an airport because of her sight loss."Luckily, my husband was with me or else it would have been really bad because I can't see anything in bright light," she said.Mrs Jackson said she was "dreading" her next flight to the UK for another medical appointment in eight weeks' time.
The Jersey Consumer Council (JCC) said situations like this were "the tip of the iceberg" when it came to the way flight cancellations could impact people.Chairman Carl Walker said there had been growing problems in recent months, with increasing flight cancellations and postponements.As a result, the JCC has launched a survey for passengers to share their experiences of flying with Blue Islands. Mr Walker said UK and EU law meant passengers on UK and EU-based airlines could claim more than £200 compensation for cancellations, but equivalent law did not exist in the Channel Islands.He said because Blue Islands was a Channel Island airline, anybody using it was unprotected from a consumer perspective.Mr Walker said: "The government needs to change the law, it either needs to create its own compensation scheme for any airline based in the Channel Islands or it simply needs to try and extend the the UK Law to cover the Channel Islands."This really does need urgent attention."
'It isn't acceptable'
In 2020, Jersey's government loaned Blue Islands £10m to be paid back over six years.Part of this agreement was to help the airline keep providing islanders with "access to essential medical care".Mr Thompson said the government should be doing something to make sure people could rely on the service, and to make sure the money the health service spent on patient flights to Southampton was not wasted."It isn't acceptable," he said.He said: "It's not about me, it's about everybody who needs that treatment in Southampton, they deserve better than this... because in a lot of cases it can be the difference."The BBC has approached the Government of Jersey for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Weird swelling revealed first sign man's fingers and toes were ‘completely replaced' by cancer
A MAN developed painful swelling in one of his fingers and toes over the course of six weeks. It turned out to be a rare sign of cancer that had spread through his body - and the bones in his digits had been " completely replaced" by cancerous tumours. 2 Prior to swelling, the 55-year-old from Australia had been diagnosed with metastatic squamous-cell lung cancer. Squamous cell lung cancer is known for spreading to multiple sites, including the brain, spine and other bones, adrenal glands, and liver. It's a type of non-small cell cancer, the most common type of lung cancer, and accounts for roughly 80-85 per cent of all lung cancer cases. His case was published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine. Six weeks after noticing swelling in his right middle finger and his right big toe, the man went to his local hospital. Doctors found the tip of each was red and swollen, and an ulcer had formed near the nail of the affected toe. The swollen areas were firm to touch and tender, the doctors reported. Scans revealed his hand and foot contained "destructive lytic lesions that had completely replaced" the bones in the finger and toe. Lytic lesions are areas of bone destruction that appear as holes or weakened spots on imaging scans. While cancer that's spread to the fingers and toes may mimic gout on a physical examination, a scan called a radiograph can help identify lytic lesions, the patient's doctors noted. The man was diagnosed with acrometastasis - the rare occurrence of cancerous tumours metastasising to the bones of the hands or feet. Acrometastases account for about 0.1 per cent of all metastatic cancers, according to a 2021 review. In most cases, the condition is seen in patients who already have cancer. But in some instances, acrometastasis can be the first sign for undiagnosed cancers. It's most often linked to cancers of the lung, gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary tract. Acrometastases are seen more often in males than in females, according to the review. 2 And it tends to be rare, because in most cases, cancer cells are drawn to bone marrow, which is found in the long bones of the arms, legs, ribs, backbone, breastbone and pelvis. Finger and toe bones contain less bone marrow. Additionally, the further a bone is from the heart, the less blood it gets. Lower blood flow makes it harder for cancer cells to reach the fingertips or toes, so acrometastases happen less often there. Because acrometastases are usually seen in late-stage cancers, they're linked to poor survival rate. Treatments are typically focused on relieving a patient's pain and retaining as much function in the hand or foot as possible. In the 55-year-old's case, he was started on palliative radiotherapy, which aims to relieve symptoms rather than cure the disease. The doctors reports he died three weeks later from complications of refractory hypercalcemia - persistently high calcium levels in the blood that don't respond to standard treatments. Common symptoms of acrometastasis Acrometastasis, the spread of cancer to the bones of the hands or feet, can present with symptoms like pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area. These symptoms can mimic benign conditions like arthritis or infection, leading to potential diagnostic delays. Common symptoms include: Pain: Often deep-seated, intermittent, and may not be relieved by typical painkillers. Swelling: Can be localized to a specific digit or involve a larger area. Redness and warmth: May indicate an inflammatory process, but can also be a sign of acrometastasis. Tenderness: The affected area may be tender to the touch. Functional impairment: Difficulty using the hand or foot due to pain or swelling. Ulceration or bleeding: In some cases, the skin over the affected area may ulcerate or bleed. Palpable mass: A lump or mass may be felt in the affected digit.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
Leeds mum takes up Ironman challenge despite stage-four cancer
Last year, mother-of-two Hannah Corne was told she had a year to live after cancer spread to her liver. Fourteen months on, the 44-year-old is set to take part in Leeds Ironman - one of the toughest tests of endurance an athlete can undergo."It was to prove people wrong," says Hannah, from Roundhay."I thought if I have a goal to get to, then I'm not going to die before I get there."And it was also to prove that even when you've got a devastating diagnosis, life does go on and you can live well." It was back in March 2019 that a regular eye check-up found something in Hannah's left was referred to Sheffield's Royal Hallamshire Hospital where she was diagnosed with ocular melanoma - a rare eye cancer. Three weeks later she had surgery to remove her eye and at first wore an eye patch before being fitted with a prosthetic."It was a massive shock," she recalls."You go from normal everyday life to having half your vision removed. It impacts everything you do every day."It was at her fifth annual scan following surgery, in April 2024, that Hannah was told the cancer had spread to her liver and was stage four. "Everything you read and everything you know is that when it metastasises to your liver, it's pretty much game over."The first thing you think about is your kids and your family. It was really devastating."A few weeks after the secondary diagnosis, Hannah saw an advert for Ironman, which takes place on is the first time the event, which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run, is being held in hilly course promises to be a tough test of endurance for the fittest of triathletes, but that did not put Hannah says: "It's been a massive distraction and has given me a sense of purpose."The kids can see me get up and do something every day."I'm raising money for charity, which has been a big factor of it and the support I'm getting from people who I haven't seen in years is a really big motivation."So far, Hannah has raised more than £13,000 for charity Ocular Melanoma founder and CEO Jo Gumbs says Hannah's strength and determination are "genuinely inspiring"."We honestly can't thank Hannah enough."She's an extraordinary woman who's taken on a huge challenge, all while juggling so much in her own life."She says the money means the charity can keep running its vital services including its helpline, psychological support and online community groups. Meanwhile, Hannah's training has been inconsistent because, while still working, she is also having immunotherapy aim of this is to control tumour growth for as long as possible, but it can have side Hannah, these include fatigue and sickness as well as pain from the tumours themselves."One tumour in particular has grown quite significantly over the last four months and that can cause pain," she says."But I keep saying to myself - if you can get through the bike, you can finish a marathon. It's just a marathon." That steely determination is something her husband Andrew Bell will be cheering on Hannah alongside their two children, 14-year-old Flo and 12-year-old Bertie."Hannah's a tough cookie - very determined, stubborn, but also a caring, passionate person who's very empathetic as well."All those qualities make her particularly special. The kids and I are incredibly proud of her."Some 2,500 people will descend on Roundhay Park Lake in Leeds to take part in the will have their own personal reasons to test their physical and mental resilience to the for Hannah, this means says: "It means that I'm still alive. It means that I'm still fighting it. It means that the kids can see it's not over yet." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
I lost 3st in just 6 months on Mounjaro – but the best bit is a rampant side-effect I wasn't expecting
A WOMAN who lost nearly 3 stone in just six months on Mounjaro says weight loss wasn't the only benefit - as she made the most of a "sexy" side effect. Jackie Collins, 44, was a size 18 at her heaviest and decided to try a weight loss job after being caught in a "vicious circle" of dieting and binge eating. 8 8 8 After a friend suggested she try Mounjaro, within weeks Jackie began to notice her hunger reducing. She went from eating bags of crisps, chocolate and big portions of creamy pasta to fruit, salads and protein rich meals. Since starting Mounjaro in February on a 2.5mg dosage, Jackie has moved up through the doses, dropping from 17st 11lbs to 15st exactly and fitting into a size 14. She now plans to incorporate some exercise into her new lifestyle after purchasing a bike. But Jackie has had an unexpected side effect from Mounjaro. Jackie says the jabs have reignited the "passion" in her sex life with her partner, Carl, 44. The couple have gone from being having sex a couple of times a month to four times a week. Jackie, who works for a shop fitting company from Southampton, Hampshire, said: "Before, the times we were intimate were few and far between - I didn't feel sexy, so how could he find me sexy? "It never happened. I always said it was never him; it was me. "But since I've started getting that confidence back, the passion's come back. Towie star Saffron Lempriere reveals how she lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks - without fat jabs "We've gone from a couple of times a month to three or four times a week. "We're like kids again, which is great." Jackie knew she needed to make a change after finding that diets and walks weren't helping. She said: "I'd been struggling to lose weight for so long. 8 8 8 "Diets would spark out and I'd comfort eat and binge eat again - it was a vicious circle. "Last October, I did a charity walk for motor neurone disease. "When I walk, I march and I did the 75 miles in 3 weeks and I lost 2lbs - that was it. "I thought something wasn't right. "Mounjaro came up and I was told to try it by a friend. "So I did, and it's been brilliant. "The weight's been coming a few lbs every week - I can see so much difference and in my clothes. "I started off on 2.5mg and I would find the day after the jab I was a bit tired initially, but that was it. "The hunger wasn't there - I was very food orientated, and I'd have it on my mind all the time and a few weeks after I started it, that's when I really noticed that my hunger wasn't there. "You think you're hungry, you go to eat and you're not. "I'm now eating correctly, have lots of protein and more water. "Now my body is getting used to it, I fancy meals, but I don't eat as much. "I was plating up a roast dinner for everyone yesterday, but I hardly put anything on my plate, and I don't have to think about it." Jackie says her new look has given her confidence - allowing her to" feel and look good." She said: "I've got so much more confidence. "A while ago I bought a red dress and when I wore it all the buttons were popping. "I went and saw Craig David and now I was able to wear the dress and I felt amazing. "I felt and looked good." 8 8 What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss.
