Car park dental unit a government failure, committee says

Proposals for a temporary dental unit in the car park of a district hospital represent a "government failure", the chairman of the Isle of Man's planning committee has said.

Manx Care applied to set up the mobile unit at Ramsey Cottage Hospital for 18 months while the hospital itself undergoes extensive refurbishment.

Chairman Rob Callister MHK said the situation was "unfortunate" and that the dentistry provision should be offered from inside the building but accepted the services were "essential" for the community.

Despite opposition from members of the committee, the plans were unanimously approved. Manx Care and the government have been asked for a response.

The application outlined plans or the mobile dental suite to be situated in the car park outside the main building, taking up 10 parking spaces.

The proposal comes after the closure of the Martin Ward in October 2025 - initially due to a pest control issue – before the need for further improvement and refurbishment works was identified in other parts of the building.

Since then, an independent survey found the hospital needed about £4m of "immediate investment" to address critical building and infrastructure issues.

Smile Dental Care was operating from the site but first temporarily relocated to Hillside Dental, then moved to the Central Community Health Centre in Douglas, before its provision stopped in April this year.

Callister told the committee hearing it was a "sorry state" adding it "isn't great" that the hospital needs a mobile dental unit.

However, he conceded that the service was "essential" for residents in the north as there were no alternative providers.

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.