The Health Minister says Manx Care cannot afford to reopen the Ramsey Minor Injuries Unit on weekends.
Claire Christian stated the weekend closure, which began in July 2024, was a necessary response to critical staffing shortages.
The decision was also influenced by significantly lower patient attendances on weekends and the fact that the on-site X-Ray facility is not operational on Saturdays and Sundays.
While workforce levels have seen a modest improvement, they remain below the required level, this means the MIA will remain closed “until further notice.”.
Overspend
The Minister said: “Currently the pay expenditure position for Ambulatory Urgent Care Services is that it is moderately underspent, however employment of agency staff to cover the gap will quickly move that to an overspend given the additional pay premium agency staff attract.
“A long-term decision around the opening of Ramsey MIU will be undertaken as part of the Urgent & Emergency Integrated Care programme which has recently started its second phase of work.
“The programme will be looking at all Ambulatory Urgent Care services including the minor injuries service at both Noble’s & RDCH, MEDS, as well as allied services such as X Ray, to seek to improve access to urgent care 24/7 through the most clinically and cost-effective way.”
A decision will be made on the weekend closure of Ramsey MIU by the end of January next year.