 Noble's Hospital currently has 314 beds and 20 wards |
Fears of cuts in front-line services at the Isle of Man's main hospital are "premature", the health minister says. Steve Rodan MHK, department of health and social security (DHSS) minister, said the budget, and any financial shortfall, has yet to be determined.
Bed cuts and ward mergers are reported to be among the considerations to balance the books at Noble's Hospital.
Mr Rodan said health bosses were trying to make cost savings without affecting frontline services.
'Close working'
He added: "Warnings of health cuts within Noble's Hospital in the coming financial year are premature, since the share of the DHSS budget for Noble's, and the Health Service as a whole, for 2006/07 has yet to be determined.
"It is also premature to state a specific financial shortfall such as �9m."
He said the health department was "acutely conscious of the effects that ward closures, ITU closures and reductions in theatre sessions would have".
Mr Rodan added: "We will do all in our power to avoid such cuts, and I am confident that working closely with hospital management and clinicians, we can do so."
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