Minister for Health and Social Care Kate Beecroft MHK has hit back at comments made by Ramsey MHK Dr Alex Allinson.

In last week’s Isle of Man Examiner, Dr Allinson expressed his shock at the decision to close an acute ward at Noble’s Hospital and end the GP-led service at Ramsey Cottage Hospital.

Two weeks ago health chiefs announced a raft of changes they said would improve care and cut costs.

They included relocating the chemotherapy service to ward 5 at Noble’s, which will no longer be 21-bed medical ward.

This would free up staff to fill vacancies elsewhere in the hospital and to cover a newly-expanded service at the Cottage Hospital which would operate as a ’step-up, step-down’ intermediate care facility, for patients unable to look after themselves at home but not poorly enough to require an acute hospital bed.

It is meant to give a new lease of life to the cottage hospital, which health chiefs say has been under-used.

Dr Allinson said he feared the cottage hospital would no longer be run by GPs from the Ramsey Group Practice but would be a consultant-led service.

He told the Examiner last week: ’The changes announced came as a shock to everyone. The GPs were due to have a meeting about their present contract but instead were given a letter and three months’ notice to quit.’

Now Mrs Beecroft has moved to allay concerns residents in the north may have regarding the standard of GP services and the introduction of a consultant-led intermediate care service at the cottage hospital.

She said: ’Dr Allinson’s comments cast doubt on the ability of Ramsey Group Practice to provide a first-rate service in the future, and I would like to assure people standards will remain as high as ever.

’GPs are commissioned by the department and as such they must maintain an appropriate level of service and standards of care.

’Our GPs do fantastic work and our new step-up, step-down approach to care will support GPs, with the service available to all group practices on the island to make referrals to, which is a positive development.

’I want the people of Ramsey and the north to understand that the changes introduced at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital have been made with careful consideration for the good of the island as a whole, making better use of the hospital as an important national facility for all of the people of the Isle of Man.

’The facility will be given a new lease of life with beds being brought back into operation as a key component of the new integrated care strategy, and it is set to play an important role in the health of the island for a long time to come.

improved care

’My colleagues have worked hard on the planned consultant-led service and necessary pathways, which will not only lead to improved care for those in need of a step-up, step-down service, but will ensure that acute beds at Noble’s Hospital are utilised for those patients with acute healthcare needs.

’The model is tried and tested in many regions and we are fortunate to have staff with the experience to make it a success.’