Mannin Doctors - Private GPs

27/12/2025

Prescribing by click and collect

A prescription is not a product.
It is a clinical decision.

The problem with online prescribing and over the counter “solutions” is not that they exist.
It is that they can quietly skip the bits that keep you safe.

The basics matter:
❔Have you been properly assessed
❓Do we know your past history
❔Do we know what else you take
❓Do we know what your symptoms might actually mean

Good clinicians can prescribe remotely, but only when the safeguards are there and when remote care is appropriate.

Regulators have strengthened expectations for online supply because people were receiving medicines that were not clinically appropriate.

At Mannin Doctors we are not anti-convenience.
We are pro-safe decisions with proper documentation and follow up.

Next week: blood testing and why a result is only as good as the sample and the interpretation.

23/12/2025

23/12/2025

📦The promise of convenience

Most people do not set out to take risks with their health.

It usually starts with a sensible thought.
“I just want to feel better quickly.”

An online questionnaire.
A supplement stack.
A finger prick test in the post.
A prescription without anyone properly seeing you.

And sometimes it works.
Until it does not.

In private medicine we see the fallout when healthcare becomes a transaction.
Numbers without context.
Medication without monitoring.
Reassurance without a proper examination.

This is not a scare story. It is a reality check.

Over the next few weeks we are going to share the common pitfalls we see and what good looks like instead.
Because private healthcare can be brilliant when it is done properly.

Next time: prescribing without being seen and why it is rarely as safe as it feels.

19/12/2025

Andropause. The conversation men are not having on the Isle of Man.

I cannot count how many times a man has sat in front of me and said some version of this:

“I’m not unwell, Doctor. I just don’t feel like me.”

He will often talk about energy first. Then sleep. Then motivation. Sometimes mood. Sometimes confidence. Often libido. Occasionally er****on changes. Nearly always a sense that something has shifted, quietly, over time.

A lot of men and their partners have heard the word andropause and assume it is either a joke, a trend, or a sales pitch for testosterone.

It is none of those.

What we are really talking about is a cluster of symptoms that can appear in midlife and beyond, sometimes linked to falling testosterone, sometimes linked to stress, weight change, poor sleep, alcohol, medication, thyroid issues, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, depression, or sleep apnoea.

That is why this matters.

Because if you shrug it off, you can lose years to feeling half yourself.
If you chase a quick fix, you can miss the real cause completely.

At Mannin Doctors we do not “sell testosterone” and we do not treat numbers on a blood test.

We take the time to work out what is actually going on.

That usually means a proper men’s health review: your symptoms, your lifestyle, your sleep, your stress levels, your cardiovascular risk, your waistline, your blood pressure, and the right bloods taken at the right time. If testosterone is part of the picture, it needs to be measured properly, and usually confirmed before decisions are made. If it is not part of the picture, we focus on what will genuinely move the needle for your health and quality of life.

For some men, the answer is rebuilding the basics: sleep, resistance training, weight management, reducing alcohol, addressing burnout, and treating underlying medical issues.

For others, there may be a place for carefully monitored testosterone replacement, but only when it is clinically appropriate, and only with proper follow-up and safety monitoring. It is also important to talk about fertility, because testosterone treatment can affect it.

If you are a man reading this and thinking “that is me” or you are a partner thinking “that is him” please know this: you are not weak, and you are not imagining it.

You deserve clarity, a plan, and a GP who treats the whole picture.

📱640355
📩welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk

17/12/2025

Mannin Doctors was never meant to be “NHS but faster”....It was created to bring back the kind of general practice people thought had disappeared.

If you have never used a private GP before, it is easy to assume it is simply the same appointment, just quicker. Pay a fee, get seen faster, see whoever is available.

That is like thinking a good solicitor sells meetings.
They do not.

They sell certainty, clarity and someone in your corner when it matters.

When Mannin Doctors stepped into the private GP world, we could have chased volume and built a model around appointments as a product.

We chose the opposite.

Because we are not selling appointments.

We are selling ownership of your health.

That looks like this:
Your GP knows you, not just your symptoms.
They spot patterns over time, not just one-off readings.
They remember what you have already tried, what you are worried about and what you are avoiding.
They check in after big life moments, not because a system tells them to, but because they genuinely care.
They help you stay well, not just get through an illness.

It is continuity, relationship and proper general practice without compromise.

And it is deliberately proactive.

The quiet blood pressure creep over two years.
The sleep that has gradually fallen apart.
The stress that is now showing up physically.
The child who keeps getting the same problem again and again.

This is where a private GP model can be transformational, not because it is faster, but because it is joined up.

We are not the emergency back-up, and we are not trying to replace the NHS. We are here for people who want a GP who can truly take responsibility with them, over time, with the headspace to do it properly.

That is why many of our patients stay.
That is why they bring their partners, their parents and their colleagues.
That is why it stops feeling transactional, and starts feeling like having a family doctor again.

If you have ever wondered what general practice feels like when it is built around time, continuity and prevention....then get in touch with our wonderful team on 01624 640355 or welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk

15/12/2025

Finger-prick blood tests: when they help and when they do not

We are seeing more finger-prick blood tests being offered through private insurance packages and sold over the counter in pharmacies. They can be genuinely useful but only when they are used for the right reason and followed up properly.

First things first
Finger-prick tests use a small capillary blood sample. It is convenient but it is not the same as a standard venous blood test taken from your arm. Collection technique and the device used can affect results so context matters.

When they are useful
✅A simple baseline when you are well and you want a starting point for a specific question (not a fishing expedition)
✅Tracking change for example rechecking a marker after lifestyle changes or treatment changes agreed with a clinician
✅Monitoring certain conditions where finger-prick testing is commonly used such as blood glucose monitoring in diabetes
✅A practical first step if you struggle with needles and need a lower barrier way to begin looking at your health

When they are not useful
❎When you have symptoms and you are using a quick test for reassurance instead of a clinical assessment
❎When the result will not change what you do next because testing without a plan often creates anxiety or false confidence
❎When the kit is vague on accuracy or gives unclear instructions or offers little help with interpretation
❎When you need a proper diagnostic answer because many concerns need a full history, an examination and often a lab based venous test to confirm what is really going on

The safest way to use them
Think of a finger-prick test as a prompt for a proper conversation not a final answer.

If you have been given a finger-prick test through your insurer or bought one yourself and you are unsure what it means bring the result to us. We will put it into context with your symptoms, your risk factors and your family history then advise whether you should do nothing, repeat it correctly or move to a venous lab test.

If you want clarity, book a review with Mannin Doctors and we will make sure the next step is the right one.

📩Welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk
☎️Call the team on 01624 640355

12/12/2025

With Santander Work Café, Isle of Man – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

12/12/2025

🎄Christmas ready starts with your medicine cupboard.

📆Bank holidays and reduced pharmacy hours can catch people out, so a little planning now can save a lot of stress later.

✅To do this this week:
Order repeat prescriptions early - ideally 7 to 10 days before you will run out

🔢Count what you have - daily tablets, inhalers, creams, eye drops, insulin, contraception, basically anything you rely on

Pack a small home essentials kit so you are not scrambling on Christmas Eve

💊What to stock (for most households):
Paracetamol and ibuprofen (check ages and doses)
Flu and cold remedies
Sore throat lozenges
Rehydration salts
Antihistamines
Indigestion relief for festive overindulging
Thermometer
Plasters, antiseptic wipes

‼️Quick check: look at expiry dates and keep medicines locked away from children.

If you are unsure what you should have in, for your situation or you are running low and want to avoid a holiday panic, we can help.
📩Drop Mannin Doctors a message on welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk or book in before the Christmas rush on 01624 640355

10/12/2025

New at Mannin Doctors – FeNO breath testing for asthma

We are pleased to let you know that we now have a FeNO machine at Mannin Doctors.

FeNO (Fractional exhaled Nitric Oxide) is a quick, simple breath test that helps us look for inflammation in the lungs. It is painless, non invasive and gives results there and then.

For patients this means we have another tool to help us support or rule out a diagnosis of asthma
understand how well current treatment is working
tailor inhalers more accurately

We will be sharing more about this service over the coming weeks but if you or your child struggle with ongoing asthma symptoms and you would like to know more, please contact the team on 640355 or email us welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk

08/12/2025

Struggling with allergies but not sure what is triggering them?

At Mannin Doctors we offer the ALEX² (Allergy Explorer 2) test, one of the most comprehensive allergy tests available.

✔ Tests for over 295 allergens (from everyday triggers to complex sensitivities)
✔ Suitable for all age groups
✔ Identifies specific IgE antibodies in the blood, helping you understand exactly what is affecting you
✔ A valuable tool for accurate diagnosis and effective management of allergies

Take the guesswork out of your symptoms and get clarity with the ALEX² test.

📱 Call 640355 or 📧 email welcome@mannindoctors.co.uk
to book your appointment today

04/12/2025

🚑 Emergency First Aid at Work – 1-Day Training 🏥
Be prepared for workplace emergencies with Mannin Doctors' accredited Emergency First Aid at Work course!

❌We have people waiting - if you would like to join in please get in touch❌

🕘 Full Day Course
📍 Venue: Mannin Doctors, Top Floor, Opul Centre, Loch Promenade, Douglas.
👥 Up to 8 people per first aider (first aiders all work within Ambulance Service)
This course meets Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations, making it perfect for businesses, employers and employees who want to ensure a safe workplace.
💷 £150 per person
Give your team the confidence to handle medical emergencies. Book your place today!

📱640355 us to register, find out more or discuss special arrangements

02/12/2025

We are growing our front-of-house team at Mannin Doctors and looking for a full time, organised Administrator/Receptionist who enjoys helping people, thrives in a patient-facing role, and keeping a busy practice running smoothly.

‍💻 About the Role - This is a varied and rewarding front-of-house position that is essential to the smooth running of the surgery. You will be the first point of contact for patients and will support the clinical and management teams with day-to-day administrative tasks.

📄 Key Responsibilities
· Welcoming patients, managing check-ins, and handling general enquiries
· Managing phone calls, emails, and appointment scheduling
· Processing registrations, referrals, and patient documentation
· Maintaining accurate patient records using clinical software systems
· Coordinating with clinicians to ensure efficient clinic flow
· Taking payments and handling invoices where required
· Supporting general administrative tasks, including filing, stock checks, and correspondence
· Maintaining a clean, professional reception environment
· Chaperoning patients where necessary and assisting the medical team with procedures as required

🫵 About You - We’re looking for someone who is:
· Warm, courteous, and confident in a patient-facing role
· Highly organised with strong attention to detail
· Able to prioritise tasks and work efficiently in a busy environment
· A clear communicator with excellent verbal and written skills
· Comfortable using computer-based systems (experience with medical/clinical software is an advantage)
· Discreet and professional, with a strong understanding of confidentiality
· A team player with a positive, can-do attitude
· Strong organisational skills with the ability to think on demand

Essential Requirements
· Previous administrative or reception experience
· Strong IT and organisational skills
· Ability to work full time on a consistent weekly schedule
· Commitment to delivering an excellent patient experience

📩 How to Apply
Please send your CV and a brief covering letter to pbibby@mannindoctors.co.uk with the subject line Administrator/Receptionist
📅 Application by December 31st 2025.