Proportion on waiting lists likely higher than England

Manx Care aiming for 95% of patients to be seen within a year

The health minister has conceded that government cannot yet put a reliable price on medical waiting lists.

Questioned in Tynwald, at the last siting of the current administration, Claire Christian said there is no activity-based costing in place.

The minister added that any attempt to cost the waiting lists using NHS tariffs would be resource‑intensive saying direct comparisons with England were 'indicative'.

Despite that she defended Manx Care’s approach pointing to a new clinical validation programme that has already removed 43 percent of reviewed patients from waiting lists because they no longer require hospital treatment.

That scheme is now being expanded across all hospital services with additional clinicians recruited in gastroenterology, orthopaedics and urogynaecology.

Ms Christian was asked about the actions taken to cut waiting lists in the last six months: 

Manx Care is targeting a reduction in outpatient referrals from 17,833 in May 2026 to around 11,500 by March 2027 and wants 95 percent of patients seen within 52 weeks for an initial consultant‑led outpatient appointment, up from 37.1 per cent.

However backbench MHKs have questioned whether taxpayers are seeing value for money highlighting major investment of around £18 million, intended to cut waiting lists, and asked why ophthalmology lists have since risen.

The minister stopped short of promising a formal audit citing ongoing work with clinicians.

Members also challenged the absence of mental health waiting figures and raised concerns about confusing communication and outdated digital systems with a promised single patient record not due to begin until 2028.