The Patient Transfer office is to move from its current base in Noble’s Hospital to Crookall House, the Department of Health and Social Care’s headquarters in Douglas.
Staff will relocate to their new base over two days on Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 December to minimise disruption to the service. The changed location will offer more space for the busy operation and reflects the preference of many patients for a convenient office in Douglas. It will also provide a space for those who wish to discuss their circumstances in private.
Patient Transfer makes travel arrangements for Island patients who need to attend hospital in the UK for appointments or treatment. The transition has been carefully planned, with staff manning both locations over the two days – to run the service while overseeing its departure from Noble’s and set-up at Crookall House.
During the transition people with non-urgent bookings are asked to call or email the office on patient.transfers@gov.im rather than visit in person. Bookings for patients whose appointments are within a week of their call will be dealt with straight away.
Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford said: ‘The Patient Transfer office is cramped at Noble’s but as it’s located between two hospital wards there’s no scope to expand. We’ve had a reorganisation at Crookall House which has freed-up space – this will provide improved facilities for the Patient Transfer team and I hope will be convenient for patients. The service isn’t changing, only the premises, which are better suited to running the PT operation.’
People calling at Crookall House in Demesne Road can contact the Patient Transfer team via an internal phone in the reception area, where clear information for visitors will be posted.
