Private patient unit set to reopen in June

The private patient unit at the Isle of Man's main hospital is set to reopen from June, the health minister has said.

Claire Christian MHK told Tynwald members Manx Care aimed to begin offering services through the facility during the summer, starting with day case procedures.

The unit at Noble's Hospital, which was initially shut for an upgrade, has not been available since January 2019.

Christian said due to "financial challenges" in the year ahead the reopening of the unit would be "accelerated" as part of a "plan to sustain financial growth" for the healthcare provider.

During the debate of the 2025-26 budget, Tynwald members raised concerns that the funding level allocated for health care could lead to reductions in services.

While the unit was not currently providing inpatient or day case services, it was open for the provision of some private diagnostic and a "limited range" of outpatient services including radiology and imaging, endoscopy, cardiology, plastic surgery, and fertility, Christian said.

It was also temporarily accommodating the ambulatory and assessment and treatment unit, with 10 beds available should they be needed to cope with a "surge in demand due to seasonal pressures", she added.

She said that Manx Care's private healthcare provision was now recognised by five private medical insurers for diagnostic services in radiology and cardiology, and has received group provider agreements from two of those for future provision of inpatient and day case services.

The health service provider was also "close to approving an overarching patient policy" to govern how private practice was delivered.

Christian said part of the work this year would include a refurbishment plan for private treatment rooms to bring them up to the "current clinical specifications" as well as standards set out by private insurers.

Manx Care's "goal" was to ensure the services were "high quality and do not interfere with, or negatively impact on, NHS services delivered", she added.

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