British Medical Association releases 'sobering' doctors survey results

"Doesn't matter, no one is going to listen", says Manx Care employees

The British Medical Association has released what it describes as ‘sobering’ results from a survey of doctors, revealing a lack of confidence in management, low morale and a poor culture.

The survey - which was designed by NHS England and King's College London - was sent to 155 doctors employed by Manx Care.

Eighty-three responses were gathered.

Doctors have said they feel over-stretched and under-resourced, with 67 percent claiming they do not have the resources they require to do a good job, and 80 percent saying they lack sufficient time to do their job well.

Meanwhile, 77 percent of respondents disagreed that Manx Care management know “how things really are”, and fewer than 10 percent think the board listen to staff views.

Thirty-seven percent disagreed or strongly disagreed that their line manager treats them with respect.

Seventeen percent are proud to work at Manx Care, and 15 percent would recommend working at Manx Care, which the BMA says highlights how poor morale is.

Chair of the BMA Professor Philip Banfield said: “I’ve heard repeatedly over the last two years from doctors on the Isle of Man just how deeply frustrated they are at work, so these results are no surprise to me. The culture that doctors work in is intrinsically tied to the quality of care they are able to give, so these results should concern us all. The BMA is committed to working with Manx doctors to help them organise and advocate for themselves in their workplace – we hope the management of Manx Care are ready to work with us.” 

Chair of the Isle of Man Medical Society Dr Prakash Thiagarajan said: “Following previous barometer of care surveys we’ve been hopeful that poor results could act as a catalyst for change, but after this third set of results showing that doctors are frustrated, overworked, and crucially, don’t feel listened to, we’re losing faith that Manx Care has the will to change things.  We hope to be proven wrong, for the sake of doctors who deserve better working lives than this – and for patients on the Isle of Man who must receive the best care possible.”

Manx Radio has approached Manx Care for comment.