McArthur calls for engagement on accessibility of lifeline transport for patients

Orkney’s MSP Liam McArthur has today called for Scottish Ministers to engage constructively with the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) on ways to improve accessibility of lifeline transport for island patients, notably the BN Islander aircraft.

This follows earlier engagement on this issue with the previous Health Secretary Neil Gray, who convened a meeting with NHS Orkney, Orkney Islands Council, Loganair and other stakeholders during the previous parliamentary session.  

Mr McArthur has now written to Stephen Flynn, Transport Secretary and Angela Constance, Health Secretary, to ask that they re-engage with HITRANS and other partners to agree a way forward in addressing long standing accessibility issues with the Islander Aircraft, which currently makes lifeline services unusable for some islanders with mobility issues. Mr McArthur emphasised the fact that this would reduce the costly reliance on air ambulance transfers.

Mr McArthur has invited both ministers to visit Orkney to view first hand the prototype lifting device being proposed by HITRANS.  

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:  

“It’s clear that action to improve the accessibility of the Islander Aircraft is urgently needed. For isles without a roll-on roll-off ferry service, difficulties in getting on or off the aircraft can mean patients missing out on routine check-ups and appointments, as well as increasing the risk of isolation. With an ageing population, these sorts of cases are only going to arise more often unless action is taken.

“This is something former Health Secretary, Neil Gray as an islander himself understood. I’m grateful to him for bringing together partners to find a solution and for supporting the work in this area. It’s now vital that the current Health and Transport Secretaries take forward this work to its conclusion.

"I have written to both Mr Flynn and Ms Constance urging them to engage directly with HITRANS, and to take up my invitation to visit Orkney to see first hand some of the proposed solutions.

“Ultimately, our lifeline transport links must reflect the needs of the communities they serve. Islanders have been waiting too long to see meaningful progress to improve accessibility both in air and ferry services. With ways of addressing these problems now identified, Ministers must now act.”