Hospital under significant pressure as patient waits increase

Manx Care's latest annual report has revealed pressure on the Isle of Man's health service, including an average 56-week wait for a first consultant appointment and a £14.9m overspend.

The report, which covers the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, found Noble's Hospital was operating under significant pressure for almost half the year, while emergency department waiting times also increased.

It outlines the challenges facing the island's health and care services, as well as areas where progress was made.

Teresa Cope, who was chief executive during the period, said: "It was a year of continued service delivery and reform, but also of significant financial, operational and workforce pressure."

She said staff continued to provide "essential health and social care" while dealing with "increasing demand, more complex needs and constraints in capacity".

The report also highlighted progress in developing more joined-up care and supporting people closer to home, Cope explained.

Manx Care said its Emergency Department continued to experience "crowding and patient-flow difficulties", with more patients facing lengthy waits for care.

Overall, 63.6% of patients were seen, treated and admitted or discharged within four hours, below the target of 78%.

For those who needed to be admitted, the figure was lower at 19.3%, fewer than one in five, were transferred to a hospital ward within four hours.

The report also records an increase in patients spending more than 12 hours in the department.

Manx Care also reported that the hospital was operating at OPEL level three or four for 48% of the year.

These levels indicate significant pressure on hospital services, with level four the highest alert and reflecting severe pressure on urgent and emergency care, with potential risks to patient safety.

The report said a shortage of available beds was putting pressure on both emergency care and planned operations.

Beds were needed for patients with more complex medical needs, leaving fewer available for people waiting for planned surgery, it explained.

In May 2026, a level four alert at Noble's Hospital led to 19 non-urgent operations being cancelled as the hospital tried to free up beds and ease congestion.

By the end of March 2026, 17,537 people were waiting for their first appointment with a consultant.

Despite a decrease of 1.6% from the previous year, the average wait increased from 54 to 56 weeks.

There was also an increase in cancer referrals for the year, up by 11.2%, with Manx Care identifying delays in accessing specialist tests and treatments, including PET scans carried out off-island.

Manx Care ended the year with an operational deficit of £14.9m against a budget of £361.8m.

The report found Manx Care delivered £9.9m in savings and efficiencies, exceeding the £7m target set by the Department of Health and Social Care.

However, this fell short of the £14.6m required in its own operational plan.

Spending on specialist treatment outside the island was £25.8m, around £4.55m above budget.

The report noted that some March figures from providers were still outstanding when the accounts were prepared.

Manx Care said referrals to children and family services grew by 21.2%, from 1,422 to 1,723, with adult safeguarding referrals also rising by 25%.

The report said the organisation continued to develop services aimed at helping people get support earlier and closer to home.

However, it added staffing and capacity pressures had remained across specialist, community and social care services.

It also reported improvements in staffing figures, with the job vacancy rate falling from 18.1% to 14.5%, while absences due to staff sickness reduced from 6.3% to 5.7%.

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