Virtual appointments offered to reduce waiting lists

Plans to reduce hospital waiting times have been unveiled.

Manx Care said virtual appointments are being made available in several areas including Cardiology, Ear, Nose and Throat, Gastroenterology, Respiratory Medicine, Pain Management, Orthopaedics and Routine Dermatology.

The organisation said patients will be contacted in the coming weeks.

They'll be given the choice of accepting a virtual appointment with a specialist or remaining on the waiting list to see a specialist in person. 

It comes after the Treasury approved £1.86m of funding for Manx Care to tackle waiting list backlogs.

The health body is using the money to employ NHS partner, Medefer to provide thousands of virtual consultations.