Patients lounge in airport moves to temporary home

A "quiet space" offered to Manx people travelling home from hospital appointments in the UK has moved to a temporary location in Liverpool Airport.

Since 2017, the airport has provided a lounge for transfer patients, funded by the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group,

Carole Male from the charity said it was "brilliant" there would be "no break in the service" after the previous space was closed due to major improvement works.

The room, due to be used until March when a permanent space is set to open, is situated after security, opposite the toilet area and would be well signposted, she said.

In September the support group expressed concerns after being told the original space was due to be transformed into a private lounge following the renovation works, with only four seats available for patients.

The group later received an assurance from the airport authorities that a new location for a dedicated quiet room would be provided, with a temporary solution offered while the works were underway.

Ms Male said "patients had panicked when they thought they were going to be without the much-needed space" because "it makes such a difference when patients have long times to wait in the airport".

She said before the creation of the dedicated area it had been "a nightmare for people when there were delays, and they couldn't get a seat and they were feeling sick".

The charity was was "so grateful" to the team at the airport that there would be "no break in provision" during the works, she added.

The permanent room, which will be next to an executive lounge near to the original location, is set to open in later in the year.

The charity previously said about 12,500 Manx patients travel through the airport each year, with many using the space.

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