Manx Care issues service update ahead of TT

Saturday, 24 May 2025 06:27

It's the 'busiest time of the year for our health and care services'

Manx Care has confirmed its plans for the racing fortnight, ahead of what it calls the 'busiest time of the year for our health and care services'.

It says it will be bringing in additional nursing and medical cover to provide an enhanced Trauma Team response and extra capacity within the Emergency Department (ED) at Noble’s Hospital.

It's also confirmed patients who suffer severe and multiple injuries and require urgent off-Island transfer will be sent to Aintree Major Trauma Centre or The Walton Centre for Neurosciences.

TRANSFERS

Medical transfers of those requiring specialist care will be facilitated either by Manx Care’s fixed wing air ambulance service once a patient has been stabilised for transfer at Noble’s, or by the team from the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who are able to fly directly to the scene of an incident to deliver advanced pre-hospital care.

They can also, where necessary, transfer the person directly to a specialist hospital in the north-west (including Aintree, where the HELP Appeal-funded helipad gives injured patients immediate access to the Emergency Department), or to Noble’s Hospital.

The GNAAS helicopters will be based at Langwathby in Cumbria or Eaglescliffe in County Durham, on standby to fly to the Island if needed.

HOSPITAL

The Noble’s Hospital orthopaedic trauma teams are said to be staffed for the increase in demand, with additional orthopaedic trauma surgeons in place to support the Noble’s team every day during the event as required.

The Critical Care Unit is fully staffed across the TT period to accommodate those who are critically ill and injured, prior to their transfer to the UK.

And additional radiology support has been secured, given the predicted increase in demand at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, and for urgent diagnostic assessment, particularly in the case of major trauma incidents, with additional blood products having been ordered in the event that emergency blood transfusions are required.

Wherever possible, normal services are being maintained across Noble’s Hospital, such as outpatient appointments, blood tests, endoscopy, x-rays and planned operations, with only the orthopaedic service being significantly affected due to the TT event.

Manx Care is asking members of the public who are attending Noble’s or Ramsey Hospitals for a planned appointment to leave plenty of time for their journey, particularly during road closure periods, and to contact the Patient Information Centre on 01624 650103 if they are unable to attend their appointment.

AMBULANCE

The Isle of Man Ambulance Service (IMAS) is predicting another busy year, and will receive mutual aid, with five paramedics and three critical care paramedics arriving from the south-east of England.

As well as the usual land-based ambulances, the service will have access to a full fleet of emergency response vehicles including critical care cars, rapid response cars and the A99 helicopter to allow them to reach non-racing incidents in hard-to-reach locations as quickly as possible.

The A99 will be staffed by emergency medics from Manx Care.

The TT response will be overseen by senior IMAS Duty Managers operating across a 24/7 shift pattern.

The team will be ready to respond on the phone, by road or by air to those who need them most.

RAMSEY

Up in Ramsey, the Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit (MIU) at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital will be fully staffed across the fortnight, with X-Ray provision on working days between 9am and 5pm.

There will also be x-ray availability between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 24, Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May, and on Saturday 31 May, Sunday 1 June and for the long weekend on Friday 6, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June.

Anyone with a minor injury or illness who can be assessed at Ramsey should continue to use that service during TT in order to reduce pressure on the ED at Noble’s Hospital.

OPENING TIMES

The healthcare provider has also announced opening times for various services across the racing fortnight:

The Emergency Department will be operating as normal from Saturday 24 May to Sunday 8 June.
GP practices will be closed on the bank holidays, Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June – cover will be provided by MEDS.
MEDS (Manx Emergency Doctors Service) will be open from 6pm until midnight each weekday over the TT Festival. MEDS is open 24 hours over the weekends and the bank holidays (26 May and 6 June). Phone lines close at 11:45pm.
MIU (Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit based at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital) will be open from 8am – 8pm (last opportunity to book in 7:30pm) for the whole of the TT festival.
MACU at Noble’s Hospital will be open from 9am – 8pm, 7 days per week over TT.
The Diabetes Centre will be closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June.
Community Dental Services and NHS Contracted Dental Services are closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June - emergency dental care can be provided by the Emergency dental service between 9am and 11am on bank holidays and weekends. The rota is available here.
Optician practices will be closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June. There will be no MECS cover – urgent eye conditions will be seen via MEDS or ED.
All community-based Therapy and Podiatry services will be closed on 26 May and 06 June.
The Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service will be closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June. Any emails or voicemails will be picked up from Tuesday 27 May and Monday 9 June onwards.
Day Centres for Older People will be closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June.
The Wellbeing Partnerships will be closed on Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June.
MCALS will be closed Monday 26 May and Friday 6 June. Any emails or voicemails will be picked up from Tuesday 27 May and Monday 9 June onwards.
The Community Pharmacy rota can be found here.
The Vaccination Team will not be offering any vaccines over the TT fortnight.
Breastfeeding Buddies will not be at St John Ambulance in Douglas on Thursday 29 May or Thursday 5 June.

SIGNPOSTING

Manx Care’s signposting brochure highlights all of the services that are available to people who require healthcare support across the TT, covering GP provision, Community Pharmacy provision, emergency Dental and Optical services, community-based mental health services and the importance of self-care.

This is available in six languages – English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Polish – and can be accessed at Manx Care's website or HERE.

Manx Care’s Executive Director of Health Services Oliver Radford said:

"Colleagues have been working closely with our partners on our TT response for many months, and aim to continually improve our plan year on year to provide the highest quality care to those who need it during the event, all whilst trying to maintain ‘business as usual’ services to our local population, despite the additional over 47,000 people on the Island (based on last year).

"I hope residents and visitors will feel reassured that we will be there for them if they need us."

Manx Care is also reminding all visitors to the Island to make sure they have adequate health insurance in place to cover the duration of their trip in the event this may be needed, and to bring all prescription medications and any other medical items they may use daily at home with them on their visit.