Manx Newscast

Today (24 August) marks the end of this year's Organ Donation Week. Members of Organ Donation Isle of Man have been in Douglas encouraging people to speak to their loved ones about their wishes.  Laws surrounding organ donation are set to change on the Island – with an opt-out system due to come into force. The Organ Donation and Human Tissue Bill - also known informally as 'Dan...

The Isle of Man Government Conference is taking place at the Villa Marina in Douglas this week.  The event sees politicians and guest speakers discuss 'critical issues' and policies being brought in across government. This year will see focus on several themes - housing, education and skills, and finance and government budgets. Residents were encouraged to sign up and have 'direct...

Horse owners are being advised not to panic after confirmation of a case of strangles on the Isle of Man. It's a highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection that attacks horses and other equines.  Raymond Cox is the chair of the Manx Horse Council:

Self-neglect is an issue seen daily by social care workers on the Island, according to experts here. They're hoping to highlight the issue and how it can be prevented. It follows a Serious Case Management Review which looked into the deaths of seven people who all died in circumstances of self-neglect.

It's emerged discussions with businesses over transitioning the minimum wage to the living wage are yet to take place. Douglas North MHK David Ashford is urging the government to carry out economic impact assessments to see how businesses would be affected. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Licensed Victuallers Association Andy Saunders believes this objective is a drive to increase taxation:

Earlier this summer, two Island sixth-formers went on the trip of a lifetime to attend the NASA United Space School in Houston. It was all courtesy of ManSat Group - which provides a yearly scholarship for students who win a challenging essay competition. This year's winners were Daniel Comley from Ramsey Grammar School and David Sargent from Queen Elizabeth II High School in Peel. Together, along...

A Marown commissioner says residents on the Island should've been consulted about Manx Care's plan to have the Isle of Man Post Office print hospital letters.  Alison Lynch says she has concerns about GDPR protection for patients' personal and medical information.  Manx Care has confirmed that 'all necessary' information governance safeguards have been completed.&nbsp...

Negotiations with the Royal College of Nursing are in 'deadlock', as nurses prepare to take the first of three days of planned strike action. Dispute remains over pay and staffing levels with nurses said to be in 'dread' over the prospect of working understaffed wards. Manx Radio's Christian Jones sat down with Manx Care's Executive Director of Nursing Paul Moore for a tell...

Let's talk social media and how we interact with politicians, organisations and normal people like you and I. Should we be more mindful of those on the receiving end, or is it fair to robustly scrutinise decisions, and how do we judge what is too far? Manx Radio's Christian Jones caught up with MHKs Stu Peters and Lawrie Hooper.

Children on the Isle of Man should stay within the care system for longer. That’s the view of the Children’s Champion who thinks the age teenagers can move into semi-independent living needs to be increased from 16. Kerry Sharpe says those who have been considered ‘looked after’ aren’t usually as emotionally secure as their peers. The MLC has shared her recommendation...

How much do you know about the role of the emergency services? On Saturday, 9 September the Isle of Man is taking part in '999 Day'. The initiative has been run in the UK in recent years as a way of celebrating all emergency services. Lewis Foster has been speaking to PC Louise Kennaugh and Civil Defence Emergency Planning Officer Jane Kelly about what it takes to be a first responder on the Isle...

Recent pay offers made to Royal College of Nursing members have been 'insulting'. That's from the union's   Regional Director ahead of industrial action planned for next week. RCN members will strike on 14 September from 8am to 8pm. Siobhán Fletcher rounds up the latest updates in this episode in which we hear from Estephanie Dunn, Manx Care, Te...

The chair of the Liberal Vannin Party says he’s ‘surprised’ that Michael District Commissioners have come out so strongly against the possibility of wind turbines in Druidale. It’s after the local authority said the onshore energy source proposal would be just as bad as another site identified in the south of the Island. Paul Weatherall says he'd also be surprised if Ma...

A consultation to inform the Women's Health Strategy has been launched online. The consultation asks which women's health topics should be the main priorities of the future strategy, which is currently in development at Manx Care. Siobhán Fletcher caught up with Clinical Care Group Manager for the Integrated Women, Children and Families Care Group, Linda Thompson, and retired consul...

A public meeting was held about Manx Utilities' plans for windfarms in the south of the Island, earlier this week. Residents in Arbory and Rushen expressed their concerns about the closeness to homes and the impact it could have on local wildlife. The MUA did not send a representative to the meeting but in a statement provided to Manx Radio, Chair Tim Crookall said it would not be 'appropr...

The Isle of Man Constabulary needs new members, and they are looking for fresh-faced youngsters and experienced older people alike. So why would anyone consider a role with the police? Siobhán Fletcher caught up with PC Louise Kennaugh to find out what she loves about the job.

A mother who has been campaigning for nearly a decade to have full parental rights for same-sex couples has welcomed a planned overhaul of Manx legislation. Sue Harper has two children with her partner Sara but due to existing laws only Sue’s name is listed on their birth certificates. That could change if MLC Tanya August-Hanson’s Private Members Bill on human fertilisation, embryolog...

Siobhán Fletcher takes a behind the scenes look at Fleet Services with a tour of the Ellerslie Depot in Crosby. We start our tour with Head of Fleet Services, Andy Barker.

Police are urging people to ‘know your limits’ as the Manx Grand Prix gets underway on the Isle of Man. 2023 marks the centenary of the road racing event. Roads around the Snaefell Mountain Course, in particular, are expected to get busy this week as visiting race fans merge with Island residents going about their daily business. It’s just three months since thousands of people w...

Plans for a new counselling service - which could see people wait just seven days for support - are underway on the Isle of Man. It’s hoped the ‘Brighter Teaching’ model, which has already been rolled out in the UK, can be successfully implemented on the Island to help reduce waiting lists for people needing therapy.   Accredited training opportunities are being offered...

Members of the Royal College of Nursing have been travelling around the Island today to raise awareness of their ongoing pay dispute with government and the poor staffing levels they face on a daily basis. Lewis Foster went down to Noble's Hospital, where the bus tour started this morning, to speak to some of the members gathered there about why they were taking part.

Peel Commissioners say the opportunity to have a specially adapted beach wheelchair is 'really good' for the area. Disability Networks has relocated its equipment from Ramsey to Peel due to ‘underwhelming’ take up in the north. Local Democracy Reporter Emma Draper has been speaking to chair of the commissioners Hazel Hannan:

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson says he's met with the Department of Health and Social Care and Manx Care to get 'firm answers' about the future of Cummal Mooar.  He says it's unhelpful for those affected that there is a 'huge' amount of uncertainty regarding the potential closure and communications from Manx Care have created 'upset'.  Dr Allinson says he is wor...

Have you had to make difficult decisions about your finances because of the rising cost of living? We're all too aware of the impact increasing prices are having on households on the Island, but it's led to concerns this could force some to make short term savings, which are detrimental in the long term. Earlier this month the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority began signposting towa...

Senior Regional Officer at the Royal College of Nursing Mary Ann Parkinson speaks to William King about an upcoming campaign bus visit which it hopes will raise the profile of the current pay dispute.