Isle of Man patients affected as GPs learn new skills
Patients in the Isle of Man will face a reduced service later as the island's GPs meet for a quarterly educational and training programme.
Around 50 GPs will discuss the latest developments in medicine and share good practice during an afternoon session.
Dr Alex Allinson said: "The training will mean GPs can deliver a more comprehensive service to patients".
The Department of Health said a "reduced service" will be available to patients across the island.
GPs will discuss a range of issues at the meeting, including safeguarding children and drug resistance.
It is hoped that the outcomes of the meeting will help to reduce waiting times for patients.
Dr Allinson said: "GPs have been working with their consultant colleagues to try and reduce hospital waiting lists by developing more skills in primary care."
At March's meeting improvements to the orthopaedics department were debated.
Dr Allinson said the meetings are delivering "tangible benefits".
Recent hospital figures show the average waiting time across all 19 departments to be about eight months.
The Department of Health said three locums based at surgeries in Douglas, the south and the north will deal with any urgent problems.
Urgent appointments and home visits will still be available but in the event of a life-threatening illness it is recommended that the emergency services are contacted by dialling 999.