Manx Newscast

The founders of an endometriosis support group say women on the Isle of Man need access to specialist care.  March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, and one in ten ladies suffer with the condition - which causes severe pelvic pain, heavy periods and infertility.  Sharon Lunt and Karen Van Den Berg say there are 262 members in their Manx Endometriosis Support group on Facebook,&...

New facilities at the Community Dental Service on Westmoreland Road are 'all about equity of care'. That's from specialist in special care dentistry, Beverley McClung, who approached the Henry Bloom Noble Healthcare Trust to facilitate the project. The trust provided a grant of £33,000 to carry out building work which included taking down a wall to make a dedicated tr...

What was predicted to be a health dominated sitting, didn't quite live up to its expectations. Phil Gawne and Christian Jones take a look back at the highlights.

A political member for the Department of Infrastructure says a 'house building plan' is missing from the government's housing policies.  Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper believes the solution to increasing public sector housing is to work with the local authorities to find out the needs of each constituency.  It comes after comments were made by Ramsey Commissioners saying the DoI is 'systematic...

The annual Teddy's Trundle is taking place this weekend. In its fourth year, it sees a group walk the 21km from Peel to the Terminus in Douglas to raise awareness of Downs Syndrome. It's organised by Charli and Oli Dimelow, who are parents to three-year-old Teddy who has Trisomy 21. Charli has been telling Manx Radio more.

We heard this week how government is considering charging people to submit Freedom of Information requests, as the number of 'complex' requests taking more than 18 hours to process is growing. A consultation has opened asking whether charges should be introduced - or other measures such as cost limits or a limit on the amount of requests individuals can submit in a single year.  FOI requ...

The Department of Infrastructure says a solution has been found to keep the site operational for another year following a dispute between local authorities in the area. Ramsey Town Commissioners announced last month that the site would be closing at the end of March due to funding issues associated with Bride Parish Commissioners withdrawing financial support, leaving a funding gap of £6...

A Manx resident who travelled the world through some of the Coronavirus pandemic has published a new book detailing some of his adventures. Derek Allen, and his wife Claire, were travelling near Germany in 2020 when Covid-19 struck and countries began getting ‘blacklisted’. They returned to the Island but left again for Europe, in their campervan, when things began to open up the following year. D...

​Government is set to resume control of the Northern Civic Amenity Site, keeping it open and operational for another year. In just two weeks' time the site was set to close to residents due to funding issues associated with Bride Commissioners withdrawing financial support. From 1 April the Department of Infrastructure will take over the facility from the NCAS Committee and — subject to...

This week marks five years since the start of the coronavirus pandemic on the Isle of Man.  Five years ago today, anyone arriving on the Island was forced to self-isolate for at least 14 days.  One of the first cancellations to be announced was the TT, followed by Local Government elections and sporting fixtures.  Chanelle Sukhoo spoke to former Chief Minister Howard Quayle, former...

Breast cancer charities on the Island are working to highlight the importance of early detection, as the frequency of screenings comes under review. The Mandate to Manx Care includes proposals to follow any changes by the UK National Screening Committee. That could see screenings moved from every two years to every three years, however Public Health Isle of Man says it hasn't 'recom...

It's been the topic of conversation all week here on Manx Radio Breakfast, but we are again turning to some information in Manx Care's Operating Plan for 2025/26. A paragraph within the section on 'patient logistics' reveals that the healthcare body is in talks over the future of its links with the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). It admits in the document that £250k is re...

Police say they want to reassure people that the Isle of Man is a safe place to live and attacks by strangers are ‘extremely rare’. It follows the sentencing of a 43-year-old man who sexually assaulted a vulnerable teenage girl in Douglas in July last year. Detective Inspector Nick Haxby, from the Protecting Vulnerable People Investigation Team, speaks to Tessa Hawley:

This year's Manx Care Mandate is all about 'modernising' and making health services 'more efficient' - 'by moving them to the right place, at the right time with the right person'. At least that's the message from the health minister, who's been hitting back at accusations that it evidences 'the largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen'. The health body says it wants to devel...

A Onchan MHK is calling on the Department of Health and Social Care to put a proposal from its Manx Care Mandate to Tynwald for a decision.  The DHSC has suggested following the UK's screening time which would see screening take place every three years as opposed to two.  Julie Edge says while it's a service that will save money, it won't save lives.

Charities on the Isle of Man are calling on the Department of Health and Social Care to rethink some of the proposals in the Mandate for Manx Care.  Some of the proposals being made are:  Reduction in acute hospital (mental/physical) bed capacity to support out of hospital care models Changes to prescription eligibility criteria More cost-effective delivery of care in hospital and commun...

Pregnant women on the Isle of Man still aren’t being offered any Parentcraft sessions in person or virtually from the Island's health service. That’s despite an assurance from the health and social care minister that new online resources would be available by early February. Tessa Hawley has this report:

The former health minister says Manx Care's mandate for the upcoming year amounts to the 'largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen'. Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper argues the health body's operating plan evidences a concerted effort from government to 'push people towards private options'. The documents are set to be laid before Tynwald later this month; and will be subje...

The chief minister has described failed plans to extract natural gas from the Island’s seabed as ‘six-years of wasted energy’. Alfred Cannan says he’s disappointed that Crogga didn’t get to the stage of carrying out a 3D seismic survey and drilling an appraisal well. Mr Cannan told Manx Radio it must be accepted that the Crogga application is finished and Tynwald has voted not to approve any...

Okell's Brewery has started its year of celebrations marking its 175th anniversary with two new updates. It's launching a new brew and has also got new equipment to keep its production as local as possible. Amy Griffiths has been down to the brewery in Kewaigue to find out more:

The leaders of the Crown Dependencies have held wide ranging talks on law enforcement and cooperation. Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan told Simon Richardson it was his first face to face meeting with UK Security Minister, Dan Jarvis.

Crogga confirmed on Friday night that its plans to extract gas from the Island's seabed wouldn't be progressing after it failed to agree a licence extension with the Department of Infrastructure. It cited lack of progress on legislation and a regulatory framework among the reasons for the decision. Infrastructure Minister Michelle Haywood joined Alex and Sian on Manx Radio Breakfast to discuss the...

An endometriosis sufferer on the Isle of Man is calling on government to take 'immediate steps' to improve care for patients with the condition.  Zara Chadwick has set up a survey - and petition - which she hopes will highlight the plight of women suffering. She spoke to Chanelle Sukhoo:

A space that's safe and supportive where people can open up about their struggles with alcohol, drugs or gambling. That's what six newly-qualified peer mentors have created at Motiv8 Addiction Services after undertaking nine months of 'rigorous training'. So now, on Tuesday mornings between 11am-midday, service users can come along and tell their story without fear of judgement - or simply lend an...

Changes to the Island's planning regulations from the 1st of March, will mean some small building projects will no longer require planning approval. Simon Richardson's been talking to Cabinet Office Minister, David Ashford, about the changes.