Hospital prepared for TT despite recent pressures

The Isle of Man's main hospital is prepared for the upcoming TT Races, despite recent pressures that saw 19 non-urgent surgeries cancelled, the chair of Manx Care has said.

With tens of thousands of visitors expected during the racing fortnight, a rise in demand on health services is expected.

The reassurance comes after Noble's Hospital declared an Opel 4 escalation last week, the highest level of pressure management in the NHS system, following a surge in demand across A&E and wards.

Manx Care chair Wendy Reid said the plan for the TT was "well established" and the public did "not need to worry".

Reid said extra staff were brought in from the UK to bolster services during the event, and they had "all the support that's necessary".

TT preparations had been ongoing "throughout the year" and involved coordination with emergency services, government departments and other agencies, she added.

Reid also confirmed that the outgoing CEO of Manx Care Teresa Cope would remain in post throughout.

Cope announced she would be stepping down from the role after five and a half years, since the inception of the healthcare operator in 2021.

"Teresa has not disappeared, she will be here throughout the TT," Reid said. "Nothing will change, the organisation is secure."

She also wanted to reassure staff and the public over the departure of Cope, praising her leadership in establishing the body as an "integrated health and social care organisation that was successful".

While no successor has yet been announced, Reid said there would be "no leadership gap" and described the move as an opportunity to reflect on how the organisation could improve in the future.

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.