Health Minister David Ashford says his department will not wait for the outcome of an external review to carry out any improvements to services.

Last month, just days after Kate Beecroft was forced to resign as minister and Mr Ashford succeeded her, Tynwald approved plans for an external review of the Department of Health and Social Care’s services and how they are funded.

The possibility of some health services no longer being free at the point of delivery was flagged up as one of the areas to be covered.

In the House of Keys last week, Mrs Beecroft’s Liberal Vannin colleague Lawrie Hooper (Ramsey) sought an assurance that the department remained committed to the policies set out in the Programme for Government and to identifying which services should be provided on-island and off-island.

Mr Ashford confirmed the DHSC was still working to the Programme for Government and added: ’It is absolutely essential the department continues its day-to-day improvement work and does not rest on its laurels over the next year.’

He said the Programme for Government was a ’living’ document and subject to annual review.

In reply to a further question from Mr Hooper, the minister said he did not see a conflict in the department continuing to examine which services should be provided here and which should be provided off-island, at the same time as the review was taking place.

Mr Ashford also reaffirmed that the department’s position on the future of Ramsey Cottage Hospital - which it has pledged will stay open following changes to services - had not changed.