Following on from the public requisition meeting on changes to endoscopy services at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, the Minister for Health and Social Care, Kate Beecroft MHK, has written to Ramsey Town Commissioners who organised the meeting, fulfilling her commitment to provide more detail on how capacity will be increased and waiting times reduced.

In a letter to the Chair of Ramsey Town Commissioners, the Minister set out how, by consolidating the endoscopy service at Noble’s Hospital and redistributing clinicians, it will be possible to provide an additional six endoscopy clinics a week – an increase of 21 hours over the previous weekly work pattern split between Noble’s Hospital and Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital.  In addition the two hours a week spent by doctors – already on-duty – travelling between Noble’s and Ramsey will be recouped, meaning even more patients can be seen.

The increased capacity will see a dramatic reduction in waiting times – currently 33 weeks for a routine endoscopy appointment.  Within a year, the waiting list, which currently stands at around 1,650, will be cleared and patients will be seen within six weeks, the same as the standard in England.

The Minister said: “I have set out in detail to Ramsey Town Commissioners how the Department intends to significantly improve the Island’s endoscopy service by clearing the waiting list and reducing waiting times for routine appointments from a wholly unacceptable 33 weeks, down to six weeks, within a year.

“I accept that some are not in favour of our decision to consolidate the endoscopy service at Noble’s Hospital.  I hope that whilst this is the case, the additional information provided will demonstrate that the Department has made the decision for the right reasons: to improve care and enhance patient safety.”