No routine GP appointments during doctor training

Routine GP appointments are set to be suspended over three afternoons while GPs doctors attend training sessions.

No routine slots will be available between 12:30 and 18:00 BST at three surgeries on Wednesday, at five practices on Thursday and at a further three surgeries on the following Wednesday.

But the affected practices will remain open for patients to book future appointments or collect of repeat prescriptions and test results.

Manx Care said anyone who needs a doctor urgently should ring their surgery to speak to an on-call GP, or dial 999 in an emergency.

Appointments at Peel, Palatine and Hailwood GP practices will be affected during the first session scheduled for Wednesday.

On Thursday, GPs from Finch Hill, Kensington, Snaefell, Village Walk and Laxey surgeries will be attending the course.

Doctors from Ballasalla, Castletown and the Southern group practices will then receive the training on 9 April.

Other medical services available include the minor injuries and illnesses unit at Ramsey Cottage Hospital, the minor ailments scheme run by community pharmacies and Specsavers' minor eye conditions scheme.

Manx Care said the training was separate from the quarterly sessions held for doctors, which bring together all of the island's GPs for to discuss developments in patient care, and had been "staggered this way so that not all patients were impacted at once".

Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.