The Manx NHS spent £3.1m on off-island flights including medical and emergency travel last year.

Figures were revealed in a Freedom of Information request to the Department of Health and Social Care.

It asked for details of the cost and number of all off-island travel by air and sea including medical and emergency medical flights and sailing in 2016-17.

The DHSC said the total number of flights was 18,180 at a total cost of £3.1m.

There were also 778 boat journeys at a cost of £61,500.

The Freedom of Information request also asked for details of the patient transfer contract with Flybe but the DHSC said the rates are commercially confidential.

A previous FoI request had asked how many patients and staff were flown from the island to the UK for treatment during the last 12 months.

The DHSC confirmed that in 2016-17 there were a total of 10,405 patient trips from the Isle of Man to the UK for treatment funded by the department

This figure will include patients who may have needed to travel more than once to the UK.