Review of health services is all-encompassing

There can be no 'sacred cows' in the top-to-bottom review of health services in the Isle of Man.

So says the Department of Health, which is currently scrutinising every service it provides to ensure value for money.

These range from specialist hospital treatments to exemptions from prescription and dental charges.

In depth reviews are also being carried out into the Family Planning Service, NHS dentistry and the number of nurses employed.

But the DHS is rejecting a recent suggestion it is over-staffed by administrators, insisting most managers at Noble's are involved in patient care.

The department's £130 million budget is the largest in government and political member Dudley Butt, MLC, says an ongoing review of priorities is vital: