Work underway to re-establish private patients unit

Manx Care aiming to delivery 100 day case procedures by March next year

Manx Care is aiming to deliver 100 day case procedures in the private patients unit by March next year.

The healthcare provider is currently progressing plans to reopen the facility.

The private patients unit at Noble's closed in January 2019 with a refurbishment completed in early 2020; it's since been used to provide additional hospital space during Covid, a vaccination hub and to accommodate the recent relocation of Martin Ward from Ramsey.

Responding to a Tynwald written question, Health Minister Claire Christian confirmed work is now underway to re-establish a private day case and inpatient service, initially to focus on procedures such as cataracts within the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year.

Manx Care's mandate for the year ahead, which was published earlier this week, requires the board to provide assurance for governance arrangements for the service by the end of April 2026.

The healthcare service has commissioned the Housden Group to provide specialist commercial advice to deliver a number of targets by April 2026, including developing a five-year private patients strategy, establishing a clinical and corporate governance framework and creating a commercial framework.

A recent Freedom of Information request from Manx Radio revealed the Housden Group's work will cost between £10,000 and £20,000.

Since Manx Care was established in 2021, private services have focussed on outpatient and diagnostic services.

Despite these service restrictions, Manx Care says revenue from private patient services is forecasted to increase from £438,000 in the 2024-25 financial year to £750,000 in the current period.

The minister confirmed the Private Patients Strategy document will be shared publicly once it's been signed off by Manx Care and her department.