Hooper: 'Cutting number of operations doesn't need political approval'

DHSC Minister says only 'significant changes' to services need to go to CoMIN

Cutting the number of operations being carried out at Noble’s Hospital is within the ‘operational sphere’ of Manx Care and does not require approval by politicians.

The health and social care minister says only ‘significant changes’ to services would require changes to the health body’s mandate.

It’s cutting elective theatre lists in ENT, general surgery and gynaecology, for a maximum of six months, to reduce how much it spends on bank theatre and anaesthetic staff.

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The decision has been described as a ‘misguided effort’ to save £220,000 by the Isle of Man Medical Society. 

It believes it will ‘exacerbate’ the already significant backlog of operations which people are waiting for. 

DHSC Minister Lawrie Hooper told Manx Radio Manx Care was informed by Treasury that it should enact its ‘contingency plan’ to reduce expenditure as a way of lowering the predicted £16.8 million overspend.

He adds that the health body, and his department, have presented to the Council of Ministers in respect of the financial pressures facing the health service.

Mr Hooper says the position, in respect of the importance of financial balance, was made clear to Manx Care by both the chief and treasury ministers.

He added: "As I am sure you are aware the Council of Ministers has made financial discipline a cornerstone of the Island Plan.

"Manx Care and the DHSC have very recently presented to the Council of Ministers in respect of the financial pressures facing the health service, the decisions that will need to be made in order to achieve financial balance and the resulting impacts of those decisions. 

"Whilst any significant changes to services would require changes to the mandate, which would require the approval of the DHSC and the Council of Ministers, the decisions taken to date rest within the operational sphere of Manx Care and I would suggest the best people to speak to about this would be Manx Care directly."