Work ongoing on cancer centre, minister says

The centre is set to be built near the entrance of Noble's Hospital

Work is ongoing to create a new cancer support information centre at the Noble's Hospital site, the health and social care minister has said.

Work on the project was provisionally due to begin in June however planning approval was not granted until September.

Mannin Cancers Support Group has secured £1.7m to build the facility near to the entrance of Noble's Hospital.

Mr Hooper said "significant work" had been carried out but there was there was currently "no definitive timescale" for the completion of the project.

Mr Hooper updated members of the House of Keys on the project on Tuesday.

He told MHKs work had been undertaken by his department to "support the charity in progressing this matter".

Manx Care and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) had been looking into the potential affect of construction works in order to "minimise disruption" to services at the hospital, he said.

'Talk to people'

The centre would see several charities and groups, including debt counselling and mental health services, brought together in one hub.

Mannin Cancers Support Group president David Gawne said for the facility's future users its creation was "absolutely essential".

It would take people "out of that clinical environment where they can just be themselves and they can talk to people", he said.

A number of trees would need to be removed ahead of the start of construction and it was important that took place before the end of January to avoid interference with seasonal bird nesting habitats, Mr Gawne said.

The charity hoped to get started with site works next month, with the aim of construction works commencing in January, he said.

If work were able to start in the new year it was hoped the centre could open its doors to the public by Easter 2025, he added.