The British Red Cross has said that its unsuccessful bids for government contracts led to its decision to sell its base in Braddan.

A number of services will closed by the end of the year, but first aid training, its Douglas shop and hospital trolley service will continue.

The Red Cross said that the decision to sell its base in Isle of Man Business Park ’follows the loss of a significant patient transport contract in June 2018 when the opportunity to tender for a contract renewal was withdrawn and patient transport services in the island were awarded to Bus Vannin’.

However, the Department of Health and Social Care has said the charity failed in a tender bid and it was only after then it offered the contract to Bus Vannin.

Services such as the wheelchair loan service will close by the end of the year. The Red Cross said it has considered ways to keep the service operating, including finding alternative accommodation and introducing a mobile service but it had not been successful in finding a solution that is sustainable in the long-term.

Director Fiona MacLeod said: ’Our first thoughts are of course for our staff and volunteers who have given such devoted service.’

She added: ’We are always reluctant to reduce services and to close properties but we have an obligation to our donors to deliver our services as efficiently as possible and to spend our money wisely.

’We have been working very hard over the past year to secure new contracts within the health and social care field, which would have enabled us to cover our core costs and subsidise other services on the island. Sadly, we have so far been unsuccessful.

’We remain committed to the Isle of Man and are open to creative proposals from the statutory and private sectors.

However, any future arrangements in the island must be sustainable.’

First aid courses to the commercial sector and members of the public will continue and run from a range of private venues. The charity’s retail shop in Douglas and the volunteer-led trolley shop service at Noble’s Hospital are unaffected.