The Isle of Man's Home Affairs minister has said he is "disappointed" with the report into the island's only prison. John Shimmin also said that the government was "surprised" by the level of criticism in the report by the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons.
The jail's healthcare was singled out as inadequate by the inspection team, with some "unsafe prescribing" found.
The recommendations are to be used to help develop the island's new prison, being built at Jurby.
The report said that the prison in Douglas - which currently has 77 inmates - was not suitable for lifers.
It said that those serving a life term were better housed in custody in the UK.
'Perfect timing'
The Attorney General's Chambers are being consulted to resolve the situation where three lifers are being held in the prison.
The inspection team also checked if areas of weakness, identified in the last report five years ago, had been improved.
It praised the prison's good practice in receiving prisoners, managing inmates with respect and attending to their basic needs.
But inspectors found that prisoners were not receiving the level of healthcare that would be expected in the community.
They also said there was no evidence of healthcare needs assessment of the prison population, no linking of healthcare provision in the prison to the Island's health service and, in some cases, unsafe prescribing practice.
Mr Shimmin said: "We invited the report team to come into the island in order to explain to us the standards they can expect in the UK and we need a benchmark.
"So they surprised us with the level of criticism in some areas, which is disappointing for us, but the timing is perfect in that we know which regimes are falling below good practice and are putting efforts in place to make sure they are resolved in the new prison."
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