Are There Enough Beds at Noble’s?

Noble’s Hospital bed capacity is to be put under the microscope after serious concerns were raised by senior doctors, prompting the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to commission an ‘independent rapid review’.

The review has been ordered following warnings from the Medical Staff Committee (MSC), which represents around 75 senior doctors and consultants, who recently called for urgent government action over what they described as a ‘critical shortfall in inpatient bed capacity’.

Doctors have warned that pressure on beds is affecting patient flow through the hospital, including delays in the Emergency Department and postponed operations when no post-operative beds are available.

The MSC has previously argued the hospital may need around 210 beds to meet minimum UK standards, and called for an immediate increase of around 50 inpatient beds.

However, Manx Care has disputed those concerns, stating that Noble’s Hospital currently operates with 233 beds and that occupancy levels remain within what it considers safe thresholds.

Now, Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian says the independent review will help bring clarity to the situation.

She said the review builds on engagement already taking place with clinicians and Manx Care, and will look at whether current measures are enough.

She said: ‘This independent review is an important step in taking ownership of the challenges we face and to provide assurance on whether current mitigations are sufficient.’

A working group will include frontline clinicians, Manx Care, the MSC and the British Medical Association, with officials saying it will bring together key professional input.

Meanwhile, a number of measures are already in motion to ease pressure on services, including a 12-space Emergency Department Clinical Decisions Unit due to open by the end of May, and a modular unit planned for Ramsey to support Minor Injuries and radiology services.

Plans are also underway to increase acute bed capacity at Noble’s by relocating Martin Ward back to Ramsey.

Minister Christian said there is ‘no single solution’ but insisted work is underway to ease pressure and improve services.