The Department of Health is delighted to announce receipt of the extremely generous bequest of ?1.1 million towards the redevelopment of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital. The official presentation of this magnificent donation from the Martin Trust to the Welfare Trustees of Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital took place on Wednesday, 22 December 2010. Minister for Health, Mr David Anderson MHK, said, “This is such a major and significant development for Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital; this incredibly generous and timely donation will have a major impact and important, long lasting benefits on the Health Service, Primary Care and the people of the Isle of Man. We are very grateful to the Trustees of the Martin Estate, particularly in this difficult financial climate, for enabling us to redevelop this vital healthcare facility and take it well into the 21st Century. I must also pay tribute to my immediate predecessor as Minister, Hon Eddie Teare MHK, whose help in enabling this tremendous generosity was invaluable.” Mr Cyril Martin and his wife left wishes for their estate to be used to assist medicine for the public good. This latest donation follows the work carried out by Hon Eddie Teare MHK during his tenure as Minister for Health and Social Security, to secure funding for a new computed tomography (CT) scanner for Noble’s Hospital in 2009, which was only possible thanks to an equally generous donation of ?1.4 million from the Martin Trust. Janet Grib, Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital Manager expressed her delight with news of the bequest, adding, “The donated monies will be used to bring forward a planned refurbishment of a 31 bed inpatient ward, utilising the existing Bride Ward and the recently vacated Gardner Ward. The new combined space will be called the Martin Ward and will include nine en-suite single rooms, plus en-suite facilities attached to each of the four/six bedded bays, to ensure compliance with the latest guidance for the control of infection, as well as providing a first class inpatient facility.” The relocation of patients from the Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) Gardner Ward, to the purpose built EMI unit at Farmhill, Douglas earlier this year, provided the Department of Health with the ability to review future options for the ward space and bring this new project to fruition. The relocation was a temporary measure whilst construction work on a new EMI site was taken forward by the Department of Social Care on a site at Gardner’s Lane, Ramsey. Whilst the changes announced today will specifically benefit inpatients, it’s hoped that further refurbishment works can take place in Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital to improve Day Care facilities. Mr Robert Jelski, Trustee for the Martin Estate commented, “The Trustees are delighted to be able to make this contribution to support this facility which is highly valued by those who live in the North of the Island.” Mr Eddie Teare MHK, Minister for Education and Children added, “This very kind and generous gift will enable the Department of Health to accelerate planned changes to RDCH which were proposed when I was Minister of the DHSS. It will secure the future of the hospital and reinforce its important contribution to healthcare for all the Island.” It is anticipated that the development will take place between February and September 2011 and, once completed, will provide the opportunity for the valuable facilities at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital to be further enhanced. - ENDS -