Plan to ease strain on hospitals

The Department of Health and Social Care says buying a new care home will reduce the burden on Noble's Hospital.

Many older residents can't afford the high cost of nursing homes, and so ended up in beds at the hospital last winter.

During Tynwald next week, the department will ask for £8.1 million to buy a site on Salisbury Street in Douglas.

A contractor will operate the facility, which will have 40 fixed-price affordable places.

Minister Howard Quayle explains: