A new mental health unit has enabled one patient to transfer back to the Isle of Man, with two more due to follow next month.

The £7.2 million Manannan Court opened last month in the Noble’s Hospital estate, replacing Grianagh Court.

It is designed for patients who are admitted voluntarily or formally under the Mental Health Act.

Health Minister Kate Beecroft told Tynwald: ’Admission is intended to be short-term with the focus on assessment, diagnosis, treatment and discharge back to the community with an appropriate support plan at the earliest opportunity.’

She said it was not designed to be a secure unit or to manage patients who needed ’high-level rational and procedural security’. Patients with a combination of serious or high-risk offending behaviours required treatment in secure facilities off the island.

Speaker Juan Watterson asked Mrs Beecroft whether there were any patients who had been sent to the UK who could be repatriated.

There are currently 14 patients receiving treatment in the UK.

The minister said: ’Fifty per cent of the adult patients currently placed with UK providers are deemed forensic and, given the individual nature and degree of risk, none of these are suitable for transfer back to the Isle of Man at this time.

’Since the opening of Manannan Court in April, one patient has been transferred back to the Isle of Man and a further two are due to return in June.

’The remaining five patients are subject to ongoing and regular review and are at various stages of their treatment pathway.’