Noble's Hospital is safe, insists Manx Care's medical director

Follows concerns raised about its capacity

Manx Care's medical director insists Noble's Hospital is safe after concerns were raised about its capacity.

Earlier this week, the Medical Staff Committee (MSC) highlighted a 'critical shortfall' in the number of available beds, claiming it posed a direct risk to people's lives.

In Tynwald, Health Minister Claire Christian said the industry-recognised 'safe levels' were 85%, and capacity at Noble's was currently 86.9%.

She also told the court that the number of beds had decreased from 314 when it first opened in 2003 to 233 today.

The MSC, which is made up of 75 senior doctors and consultants, has subsequently called for 50 more beds to be made available.

However, Chris Stockport says it's not as easy as that: