Reaction to changes at Ramsey Cottage Hospital has been ’positive’, according to Health Minister David Ashford.

Over the past year, some services have been moved from the hospital - including the centralisation of endoscopy services at Noble’s Hospital and the closure of an acute ward - and the GP-led service was ended.

In the House of Keys this week, Mr Ashford said: ’The feedback that has been received from colleagues working at Ramsey and service-users regarding the clinical and non-clinical management arrangements that have been put in place has been extremely positive to date, and this feedback has also been echoed by the respective charitable trusts.’

Feedback would continue to be sought and health chiefs were ’committed to ensuring that a strong and accessible management presence continues to support the ongoing development of the hospital and the team’.

Responding to questions from Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey), Mr Ashford said that while he had not received any personal feedback from the team at Ramsey Group Practice, he understood GPs had been consulted.

Mr Ashford said a senior management roster was introduced in November to ensure a daily presence and also on-call back up.

The director of hospitals is on site for half a day each week.

’It provides a broad range of management and leadership experience, reaffirms the objective of ensuring that colleagues based at Ramsey do not feel isolated and shows that they are an integral part of the directorate,’ he said.

A ’consultant-physician-led clinical service, supported by a dedicated associate specialist doctor’ came into effect at the end of January.

Out-of-hours arrangements at weekends and on bank holidays had been enhanced.

’Overnight medical cover continues to be provided by the Manx Emergency Doctor Service,’ said the minister.

’The associate specialist provides day-to-day medical input to Martin Ward, as well as providing medical support to the minor injuries unit as required.’

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