Breast care improvements announced on Isle of Man

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Breast care service improvements on the Isle of Man will mean patients can be treated closer to home, the Department of Health (DoH) has said.

The island now has a permanent consultant breast surgeon, a breast reconstruction service and a node biopsy service at Noble's Hospital.

On-Island breast reconstruction will mean patients will not have to be referred to hospitals in the UK.

Health Minister David Anderson said he was "delighted".

He said: "For the size of our population our breast care service really punches above its weight.

"I'm delighted that the department has not only been able to go far beyond maintaining the services provided under the previous locum surgeon, but also significantly enhance them for women who suffer from this disease."

Other improvements include the appointment of a permanent consultant radiologist and a second consultant histopathologist as well as an increase in the number of theatre sessions available.

The DoH said since July 2011 overall inpatient and outpatient waiting times had also gone down.

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