Members of the public who are concerned about the continuation of services at Ramsey Cottage Hospital are being urged to attend a requisition meeting to be held at in the main hall at Bunscoill Rhumsaa, Lezayre Road, Ramsey, on tonight (Tuesday) 7pm.

The meeting follows the announcement by the Department of Health and Social Care that the long-established endoscopy service at the Cottage Hospital is being transferred to Noble’s - a development which prompted 14 constituents to call on the chairman of Ramsey Commissioners, Andy Cowie, to hold a public meeting.

Their request stated: ’There appears to be a secretive culture developing within the department; something that is corrosive to staff morale and public confidence.

’We believe that clarity is required from the department and hope that the Minister, the department’s political members and its chief executive will attend the meeting and provide that clarity to the staff of the hospital; the users of the hospital’s services and the people of the north of the island as a whole’.

At the commissioners’ monthly meeting on Wednesday night Mr Cowie told colleagues that the minister - Kate Beecroft, the chief executive and two members of the department had indicated they would attend.

Board member Juan McGuinness commented: ’I hope the people of Ramsey will come out in force to show the strength of feeling in the town - and I hope Mrs Beecroft listens.’