Minister sees patient waiting more than 24-hours during visit to ED

Claire Christian outlines redevelopment plans and TT preparations

The health minister has detailed what she witnessed during a recent site visit to Noble's Hospital including one patient who'd waited more than 24 hours to be transferred onto a ward.

Claire Christian has been quizzed in the House of Keys on progress to improve the Emergency Department and prepare it for the upcoming TT races.

She says measures are already being put in place and a project development fund to support the next stage of work to revamp the site has been approved by Treasury.

And whilst she assures they're confident in the medical provision during the TT period Ms Christian says her recent visit has highlighted the challenges being faced:

New Emergency Department "a long way off"

In her initial response to the question, from Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Jason Moorhouse, Minister Christian told Members: "We are already putting immediate measures in place alongside independent assurance and longer-term redevelopment; all aimed at improving patient flow, reducing waiting times and strengthening patient experience.

"As previously advised, a number of mitigations are underway.

"Manx Care have informed the department that these include the creation of the 12-space emergency department clinical decision unit.

"This also includes a modular unit which will be positioned up in Ramsey District Cottage Hospital to help the return back to the north and also later this month, the longer-term relocation of Martin Ward back to Ramsey in mid-May."

Ms Christian says the approval of the project development fund will allow her department and Manx Care to undertake 'a necessary scoping, design, development and options appraisal, to ensure any future proposals are robust, evidence-based and aligned with modern clinical standards.'

But ultimately she says a new Emergency Department is 'a long way off, so it's not something that's going to turn up in a year'.

The Department of Health and Social Care recently committed to carrying out an urgent review of the Emergency Department at Noble's Hospital, following concerns raised by medical staff about the site's bed capacity.

The minister said this review is important and it need to be 'robust enough' to make sure that the ED will function 'the way it should do'.

TT: "There's something not adding up"

Regarding the upcoming Isle of Man TT Races, the minister assured that Manx Care's operational plan for the event is 'well underway and on track'.

"Manx Care is confident that medical provision during the period will be of the continued, safe, high-quality standard needed," Ms Christian said.

While she couldn't give full details of this year's operational plan, during last year's motorsport fortnight she said additional capacity was created via 'enhanced trauma team staffing in the Emergency Department at Nobles' Hospital with extra medical and nursing cover, full staffing of critical care supported by additional orthopaedic trauma surgeons throughout the event.'

She also listed: 'Mutual aid to the Isle of Man Ambulance Service, including visiting paramedics and critical care paramedics from the UK.

'Access to specialist aeromedical transfer via Manx Care's fixed wing aircraft and GNAAS helicopters for advanced pre-hospital care and urgent off-Island transfer.

'Extended diagnostic capacity, including additional radiology support and increased blood product availability.

'And it is anticipated that similar enhanced arrangements will again be put in place for TT26, scaled to demand and informed by learning from previous years.'

However, the health body's approach was questioned by Onchan MHK Julie Edge who described it as 'a bit of an overreaction'.

Ms Edge said: "We've been doing the TT for over 120 years. 

"I worked in Nobles in radiology when we did many situations with far higher numbers of visitors coming to our Island. The resilience has always been there.

"We're bringing in extra this, we're bringing in extra that. What has happened to our own doctors, nurses, who have always been very capable of dealing with TT?

"There's something not adding up. What is Manx Care not understanding about operating our motorsport event that we've operated for over 100 years?"

Minister Christian replied: "I think safety is really important honourable members.

"The honourable member will also be aware that it isn't just Manx Care that provides the support during the five weeks.

"We also have the Manx Road Racing Medical Services, which is procured by the Department for Enterprise, and this is a really essential part of these races going ahead.

"They bring over 100, if not more, specialists to support the road racing events and that's really, really important."