Noble's emergency care teams under pressure

Public encouraged to go to Ramsey instead

Nobles Hospital has activated what it calls well-defined plans after the admittance of a number of seriously and critically patients over the last 24 hours, put its emergency care teams under pressure.

As part of the plans, members of the public are being encouraged to use Ramsey's minor illnesses and injuries unit over the next 24 hours, and only attend the emergency Department at Nobles if they need to.

Manx Care's Executive Director of Nursing and Governance, Paul Moore has given an assurance that should people require emergency care or treatment at Nobles Hospital over the next 24 hours, the team will be there for them. 

But he's asking people to choose well with regard to where they seek healthcare support at this time.

He said: "Firstly, I would like to reassure members of the public that we are here for them, and would encourage them to choose well with regard to where they seek healthcare support at the moment. If they require urgent and emergency care or treatment at Noble’s Hospital over the next 24 hours, we will be here for them – and I would like to emphasise this.

“If you require urgent or emergency treatment in the coming hours, please do still come to Noble’s Hospital.

“However, the reason we are asking people to consider using the Minor Illnesses and Injuries Unit at Ramsey – if it is appropriate for their clinical condition – is that this takes pressure off the urgent and emergency care teams working within Noble’s Hospital, and allows them to be able to focus on those patients who need them most. Every day we see a number of patients in the Emergency Department at Noble’s who could be treated in another clinical setting, such as at Ramsey, by their GP or at a Community Pharmacy, and I would urge anyone who can make their way to Ramsey and be seen by the team there to do this.

“The team at Ramsey can treat a broad range of conditions including dislocations or breaks, sprains, minor head injuries where there has been no loss of consciousness, minor illnesses such as urine or water infections, ear, eye and throat infections, abdominal pain, abscesses and boils, muscular pain, headaches, rashes, cuts, burns, scalds and emergency contraception. They are open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, and have the capability to offer an X-Ray service on weekdays between 9am and 5pm.”

The public is also reminded that community pharmacies operate the Minor Ailments Scheme and eye conditions can be treated under the Minor eye conditions scheme.

Meanwhile Douglas can support people with a dental emergency or those who don't currently have a dentist.