THE Isle of Man has had the go-ahead to launch a new pacemaker service at Noble's Hospital.
The Department of Health has announced it will carry out standard pacemaker procedures after a £40,000 charitable donation from Noble's Hospital trustees.
Around 430 people in the Isle of Man are fitted with pacemakers. These are small metal boxes which are attached to one or more pacing leads that run to the patient's heart helping the heart to beat regularly.
Inserting a pacemaker is a minor surgical procedure that is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. The donation will pay for a pacemaker team, led by Dr Jan Tibitanzal, who will be fully trained to carry out the procedures.
Currently people in the Island who are fitted with pacemakers have to travel to Liverpool for any necessary procedures. This new initiative will avoid off-island travel and reduce waiting time for appointments.
Health Minister David Anderson MHK said: "Whilst the Isle of Man does not always have the critical mass to deliver the full array of medical procedures on-Island, we constantly review provision in light of what provides best value for money and the best outcomes for patients.
"Clearly it is preferable for our patients with a pacemaker, many of whom are elderly, to be cared for on-Island where they can forgo the upheaval and inconvenience of having to travel to the UK for treatment.
"We are all aware of the economic situation government faces at present and I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to the Noble’s trustees for providing funding for this exciting new initiative."
Set up costs and equipment will be covered by the trustees' donation. The on-going running costs will be covered by the money saved in sending people to Liverpool for treatment. More complex treatment will continue to be referred to Liverpool's Broadgreen University Hospital or the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
Barbara Scott, manager of Noble's Hospital, added: "Medicine is always changing as are the medical demands of the Island's population. For these reasons we regularly review services to see what can be provided on-Island at Noble's Hospital or in the community and those services for which we have to refer patients to the UK.
"I am delighted that we'll soon be able to provide this new service on the Island and improve patient care by removing the inconvenience of travel to the UK. I would echo the Minister's comments in adding my sincere thanks to the Noble's Hospital trustees without whose generous funding this initiative would not have been possible."
The service will be set up within the next 12 months and should be fully in operation by Autumn 2011 following the completion of staff training and equipment purchase. It is planned that it will be located in the Radiology Department.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below:
