Cost of off-Island healthcare treatment almost £2m higher than forecast over five-month period

Manx Care says work is underway to reduce patient travel, but a limited budget is delaying planning

Manx Care's spending on off-Island hospital treatment in the current financial year was almost £2 million higher than expected to the end of August.

The healthcare provider had forecast a spend of £8.85 million for the first five months of the 2025-26 period, but treatment at tertiary centres across has cost £10.8 million.

Manx Care says there is now improving awareness of high cost areas and activity levels, and that work is underway to improve efficiency and reduce patient travel.

However, a limited budget has delayed activity planning, and some NHS Trusts have expressed concerns about adapting to new referral processes.