Tynwald approves £18m to cut IoM waiting lists

Tynwald has approved an £18 million spend to cut hospital waiting times on the Isle of Man.

The money will be used to bring forward treatments in a number of departments including general surgery, orthopaedics and ophthalmology.

It follows an admission from the island's Health Minister that current waiting times have grown to an unsafe level.

In Tynwald this week, Rob Callister said some patients "had to wait too long for appointments", which was "seriously affecting their quality of life".

The additional funding will be used to pay a private healthcare firm to provide private clinicians to work at Noble's Hospital.

Manx Care has been asked to provide quarterly progress reports.