Health authorities are working to cut waiting times for pain management treatment, Tynwald has been told.

Health Minister Howard Quayle says action is being taken to reduce waiting times for routine appointments of three and a half years.

Answering a question from Michael MHK Alf Cannan, Mr Quayle told Tynwald: 'I am pleased to be able to report that we have recently agreed some very real and practical solutions...to enable us to significantly enhance the capacity of the current service.'

He said improvements to the service would begin before Christmas and he would report back to Tynwald next march.