NHS Shetland agrees to allow patients to fly to attend appointments

The board at NHS Shetland have agreed that patients travelling to Aberdeen to attend appointments will still be able to fly, after previously planning to use ferry trips to cut costs.

The health board had originally planned to send the majority of people by a 12-hour ferry rather than one-hour flight, in an effort to save £1 million.

Meanwhile, feedback from local GPs suggested at least four out of 10 patients would be exempt from taking the ferry due to clinical or social issues.

The proposal sparked a number of public petitions, with thousands signing up to the campaign leading officials to reverse the plans and allow patients the choice to travel by boat or plane.

Following negotiations, Loganair has agreed to lower fares in a deal that will save £300,000 a year from NHS Shetland's £2.7 million travel budget.

It is also hoped a further £250,000 can be saved by reducing the amount of patient journeys undertaken.

The board decided that all patients would still be offered a choice of flying or sailing.

Managers have now been tasked with looking at how the number of patients travelling to Aberdeen can be reduced.

Work is also under way to increase the use of videoconferencing for consultations with specialists at NHS Grampian.

The health board has maintained that flights would still have been available for those with a specific clinical need.