Ear nose and throat's clinic
| Authority | Manx Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2025-10-14 |
| Outcome | All information sent |
| Outcome date | 2025-10-23 |
| Case ID | 4997068 |
Summary
The request inquired about the status of the ENT operating theatre, patient waiting times, and NHS guidelines on the Isle of Man. Manx Care disclosed that the theatre is operational, provided specific waiting list statistics, and explained that UK waiting targets do not apply locally.
Key Facts
- The ENT operating theatre is currently open and delivering elective surgery after a temporary suspension for service review.
- Manx Care does not follow the UK RTT rule book, which affects how waiting lists are reported.
- UK waiting list targets do not apply on the Isle of Man, though NICE guidelines are followed where possible.
- Initiatives to reduce waiting times include virtual follow-ups and results clinics, which have been in use since the start of the year.
- Directing patients to Accident and Emergency (AE) if conditions worsen while waiting is considered acceptable practice.
Data Disclosed
- 70 day case patients waiting 1 year
- 2 day case patients waiting 2 years
- 57 inpatient patients waiting 1 year
- 1 inpatient patient waiting 2 years
- Booking at around 180 days wait for day cases
- Booking at around 170 days wait for inpatients
- 2025-10-14
- 2025-10-23
- 4997068
Original Request
"Is the ENT operating theatre closed If it is when will it reopen How many patients are waiting more I year 2 years 3 years 4 years or longer What are the guidelines for NHS to see a patient in how many weeks What initiatives are being introduced to reduce these waiting times When will these initiatives be introduced Is it good enough to tell Patients to attend AE whilst they are waiting if there Conditions worsen
Data Tables (2)
| Waiting list name | Wait range | Count | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day case | 1 year | 70 | Booking at around 180 days wait |
| Day case | 2 years | 2 | 2 patients who have declined dates offered and or did not attend scheduled theatre date |
| Day case | 3 years | 0 | |
| Day case | 4 years + | 0 |
| Inpatient | 1 year | 57 | Booking patients at around 170 days wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inpatient | 2 years | 1 | Patient requires both surgeons to be available to operate at same time leading to delay. |
| Inpatient | 3 years | 0 | |
| Inpatient | 4 years + | 0 |
Full Response Text
Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000
Our ref: 4997068 23 October 2025
Dear
We write further to your request, received 14 October 2025, which states:
""Is the ENT operating theatre closed
If it is when will it reopen
How many patients are waiting more I year 2 years 3 years 4 years or longer
What are the guidelines for NHS to see a patient in how many weeks
What initiatives are being introduced to reduce these waiting times
When will these initiatives be introduced
Is it good enough to tell Patients to attend AE whilst they are waiting if there Conditions worsen"
Response
Is the ENT operating theatre closed?
No the theatre that is used by ENT is also used by other specialties and has been in
operation throughout this financial year.
There was a temporary suspension of services due to a need to review the ENT service
following an incident to assure ourselves that changes were in place to reduce the
possibility of the incident happening again.
If it is when will it reopen?
The service is currently delivering elective surgery again.
How many patients are waiting more?
Manx Care does not follow the RTT rule book which can improve the visibility of
patients on an active waiting list. For this reason waiting lists can appear abnormally
long for surgery as patients that are choosing not to accept a date for surgery remain
on waiting lists for long periods of time.
Waiting list
name
Wait range
Count
Comment
Day case
1 year
70
Booking at around 180 days wait
Day case
2 years
2
2 patients who have declined dates offered
and or did not attend scheduled theatre
date
Day case
3 years
0
Day case 4 years + 0
Inpatient
1 year
57
Booking patients at around 170 days wait
Inpatient
2 years
1
Patient requires both surgeons to be
available to operate at same time leading to
delay.
Inpatient
3 years
0
Inpatient
4 years +
0
What are the guidelines for NHS to see a patient in how many weeks?
The UK waiting list targets do not apply on the Isle of Man however Manx Care does
where possible follow NICE guidelines which can give an indication as to timescales by
which individual presentations should be seen/ treated.
What initiatives are being introduced to reduce these waiting times?
The service is currently review its practice of following up patients, the UK has seen a
much reduced use of consultant follow up which increase capacity available for new
patients to be seen. The service is also making best use of virtual follow up and results
clinics to free up capacity within its face to face clinics.
When will these initiatives be introduced?
Virtual follow up and results clinics are in use from the start of this year and the team
are working at reviewing follow up capacity in clinics.
Is it good enough to tell Patients to attend AE whilst they are waiting if there Conditions worsen?” This is an acceptable practice to safeguard patients whose conditions may change whilst they are awaiting care. We monitor patients who attend as emergencies whilst on a waiting list and to date this has not been cause for concern. If numbers start to rise then this would trigger an escalation and review of the service/ risk to patients. Patients remain under the care of their GPs who can also request and expedite care should patients’ conditions change in a way that may require more urgent treatment.
Please quote the reference number 4997068 in any future communications.
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I will now close your request as of this date.
Yours sincerely