The Department of Health has today published the action plan developed by Noble’s Hospital to enhance colorectal surgery in the Isle of Man in order to demonstrate to the public the progress that has been made in this area.  The action plan encompasses all of the recommendations made by the Consultant Colorectal Surgeon from an NHS teaching hospital in England who conducted an independent external review in late 2012 at the request of Noble’s Hospital’s senior management.  The review followed complications in four cases of bowel surgery during November last year, which saw elective colorectal surgery temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
 
Minister for Health, David Anderson MHK said: “I’m concerned that the public may have been misled and alarmed by the partial information that has been circulated to promote a particular political agenda, so I am keen that the public are provided with a more balanced picture.  Although the review document is for internal purposes and is private and confidential, the Department has published the action plan it has developed, which consists of seven short term recommendations – all of which were implemented earlier this year – and six longer term recommendations, on which work is progressing.  So the majority of work has already been done with the rest well under way.
 
“The Consultant Colorectal Surgeon, upon completing his independent external review at the end of last year, did determine that on the whole it would safe for colorectal surgery at Noble’s Hospital to resume; however senior management at Noble’s Hospital decided to take the precaution of ensuring that all of the short term recommendations were first in place before taking that step.
 
“Medical and surgical best practice continues to change and adapt with near constant improvements and innovations, as the recommendations and action plan show.  This plan ensures that the team at Noble’s can continue to develop services that take account of these advances, whilst making sure that patients undergoing highly complex and high risk procedures, such as bowel surgery, are as safe as we can possibly make them.”
 
The action plan can be downloaded from the Department of Health’s website at: www.gov.im/lib/docs/health/news/actionplanforcolorectalsurgerya.pdf.