'Structural issues' delay pest-hit hospital opening

Residents in the north of the Isle of Man are to face a longer wait for the return of local health services after "additional structural work" was deemed necessary at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, the government has confirmed.

Several services were moved out of the hospital in December as a result of a pest control issue.

While health officials promised a full return by the end of April, that deadline has been pushed back to May.

Manx Care chief executive Teresa Cope acknowledged the "impact of ongoing disruption" but said that the work was essential to "future proof the building".

After a deep clean and ventilation system checks, the hospital's Martin Ward began operating again in January.

But Manx Care said detailed inspections of other parts of the hospital site had revealed deeper problems with the building's infrastructure that needed be fixed before clinical work could resume safely.

The government has therefore announced a two-stage plan to move services back into the building.

The minor injuries unit, blood clinics, radiology, and bone density scanning are now to return from May, in time for the annual TT Races, which starts in the last week of the month.

Other outpatient services are due to follow in later phases, though a firm date for a total reopening of all departments has not yet been set.

In January it was revealed that pest control teams had been called to the site 39 times in less than a year.

Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian said the latest delay was necessary to ensure the hospital's long-term future.

"This is not about quick fixes, but about taking responsible decisions now to protect services for the future," she said.

For people living in Ramsey and the surrounding area, the relocation has meant a 30 mile (48km) round trip to Noble's Hospital in Braddan for minor injuries and specialist clinics.

Manx Care confirmed that temporary transport support, including shuttle buses, would continue to run until the services returned to the northern site.

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