The NHS’s bone density service is to move from Noble’s Hospital to the Community Health Centre at the old hospital site on Westmoreland Road, Douglas.
The move will begin on Monday (August 4),= with normal service due to resume at the new location on Monday, August 11.
The week-long period is to allow for the physical relocation to take place and for quality assurance checks to be performed on the scanner following the move.
The relocation is part of the Department of Health and Social Care’s long term plan to use community health facilities for the delivery of non-urgent care, ensuring that the facilities at Noble’s Hospital are used to treat the acutely unwell and deliver emergency care.
The move will free up space to develop additional facilities for the on-island pacemaker service, and patients using the Bone Density Service will benefit from a new dedicated waiting area and changing facilities.
The island’s bone density scanner is used to generate ‘Frax scores’ – an individual assessment measuring a patient’s risk of having a fracture.
This is invaluable to patients at risk of osteoporosis, a condition which causes bones to become brittle and weak. Over 1,000 patients are scanned each year on the Island for the disease which often has no initial symptoms until a fracture occurs.
Lisa Airey, acting radiology manager at Noble’s Hospital, said: ‘This move is very positive for the bone density service and will provide us with a dedicated space and offer improved facilities for patients.
‘It will also enable us to enhance the service with the introduction of morning appointments.
‘In addition it frees up a clinical area at Noble’s Hospital for a service which must have hospital support and facilities for it to function – the pacemaker service.
‘The relocation itself will take a few days, particularly as we are moving heavy and complex equipment; however I have ensured there will be minimal disruption for patients.’”
The radiology department at Noble’s Hospital will continue to oversee and manage the service and the contact telephone numbers will remain the same.
Anyone who has any queries regarding their appointment should telephone 650100.