Health chiefs insist there is no threat to the future of Ramsey Cottage Hospital - despite news that the endoscopy service is moving to Noble’s.

The Department of Health and Social Care says running the endoscopy service on two sites is ’neither efficient nor sensible’ - and has decided to consolidate it at the purpose-built unit at Noble’s.

It says this is being done to address concerns relating to the endoscopy waiting lists.

As a result a small number of staff at Ramsey District Cottage Hospital have been asked to work at Noble’s from May 22, and some equipment will also be moved.

This does not mean that the operating theatre at the Cottage Hospital is being closed, the department stressed.

And it added: ’The DHSC can assure everyone that RDCH is under no threat, as it is the base for a number of key services. It is likely that we will want to augment some of them.

’This decision has been based on improving clinical care and reducing waiting times. It is not expected that it will save money, as that was not part of the decision-making process.’

Endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure used to examine a patient’s digestive tract.