Manx Care switching to telephone appointments from today

Changes will be in place for at least two weeks

Some appointments with Manx Care will be carried out over the phone where possible from today.

It's in response to the effect of Covid-19 on staffing levels in Isle of Man healthcare.

The changes will be in place for at least two weeks.

The following appointments will be happening in person:

• Emergency Department
• Oncology Day Unit & Clinics
• Rheumatology Department & Day Assessment Treatment Unit
• Audiology
• Haematology
• Blood Clinic
• Paediatrics
• Ophthalmology – Macular Clinics and Paediatrics
• Radiology
• Antenatal Clinics
• Fracture Clinics Fracture and Orthopaedic Clinics in Ramsey District Cottage Hospital 
• Outpatient Therapy Clinics (i.e. physiotherapy, podiatry, speech therapy etc)
• Anticoagulation clinics
• Diabetes and endocrine clinics at the Diabetes Centre 

Anyone who hasn't been contacted by Manx Care about the changes is asked to attend their appointment as normal.

Outpatient appointments were cancelled and non-essential visits to residential homes were stopped on 31 December for fourteen days.

Manx Care Chief Executive, Teresa Cope, said: “We constantly monitor our staffing and demand levels across the whole organisation to ensure that staff are where they are most needed. We would like to thank our dedicated staff for their ongoing flexible approach to delivering care within health and social care settings.
 
“Like many organisations and businesses across the Island the situation is very fluid. We will continue to update the public with any changes, and would encourage them to consider seeking support from the service that is most appropriate for their needs at the moment, for example the Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit at Ramsey Cottage Hospital. We are still here to support the Manx public despite the current situation.”