Concerns over gynaecology services at Nobles Hospital were raised in Tynwald this week, with questions about lengthy waiting times and cancelled appointments for women on the Isle of Man.
Health Minister Claire Christian confirmed that patients requiring specialist urogynaecology care are currently referred to Liverpool Women’s Hospital, with Manx Care working to recruit a consultant to develop local services by mid-June.
“This will ensure that complex as well as routine work can be seen on the island,” she said.
Current waiting times for first outpatient appointments stand at 109 patients, with a median wait of 27 weeks and the longest at 75 weeks.
Follow-up appointments involve 181 patients, though no day cases or inpatients are waiting.
Julie Edge highlighted reports of cancelled appointments, asking if funding cuts were to blame. “Is the minister not aware that very recently, a large number of ladies received letters saying that their appointment has been cancelled?
“Can the minister confirm that it wasn’t a cut in the money provided for the locum who was covering this area that has caused these delays?”
Ms Christian said: “I wasn’t aware that some patients have been sent some letters, but I have got assurance from Manx care that funding has been ring fenced for this service, so it is not due to a reduction in funding.”
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