Public apology for failure in health department

Minister says administrative failings shouldn't have happened

Health Minister David Ashford has given a public apology, after an administrative failure from the health department over an eight year period left a backlog of 157 colonoscopy patients.

In the House of Keys this week, Julie Edge MHK raised the issue, asking the health minister "when the report on colonoscopy, which was commissioned in May 2017, will be published."

The Minister said the report had been commissioned internally to investigate issues within the department - but added he was happy to circulate copies to members.

Manx Radio has reported on three individuals who had been affected - one patient who has recovered from the effects of this, one who has been left with life-changing, irreversible damage and one who lost their life as a result.