Manx Care accuses MHK of making 'sweeping and factually incorrect' statements in Tynwald

Follows Julie Edge's 'code red' claim

Manx Care has accused an Onchan MHK of making ‘sweeping and factually incorrect statements’ in Tynwald.

It follows Julie Edge’s claim that Noble’s Hospital was almost at a ‘code red’ for staffing levels over the weekend.

In her Budget speech this week she also claimed bank workers had been stopped by individuals employed by the health body to look at efficiencies.

Manx Radio invited Manx Care to respond to the claims and received a response which you can find HERE.

However it’s now issued another statement further disputing Ms Edge’s claims and explaining in more detail about an incident which took place in the Acute Medical Unit at 10.09pm on Sunday.  

Code Red

This ‘code red’ situation, on 16 February, related to a security incident and not to staffing levels.

The health body adds that ‘code red’ is a term used internally within the hospital setting to alert porters, and other staff, to a security incident that requires assistance and possible intervention.

These incidents typically relate to patients being violent and/or aggressive towards staff, other patients or themselves.

Safe Staffing

Manx Care says any suggestion that nurses were put at risk was incorrect as staffing levels over the weekend did not drop below designated and agreed minimum safe staffing levels.

A spokesperson added: "Whilst Manx Care continues to look at the most appropriate and cost-effective use of bank staff this is a mechanism which Manx Care uses when operational needs such as short notice sick leave, patient acuity or behaviours require them to do so.

"Manx Care remains committed to providing a safe level of care to both its staff and patients and continues to do so every 24/7 365 days of the year."

The health body adds that if staffing levels had dropped below the required numbers the associate directors of nursing, who were on duty over the weekend, would have been alerted to this.

They would then have been asked to approve additional staffing with those in question described as being ‘extremely well placed’ to judge requirements to ensure the safety of all staff and patients.

Whilst one ward area in the hospital had short notice sickness on Sunday afternoon and evening this was covered by a staff member undertaking a bank shift.

At the time of the ‘code red’ situation on the AMC there were four registered nurses and two health care assistants on duty which was above the minimum safe staffing levels agreed.

Manx Care adds: "Statements based on hearsay can be very unhelpful and lead to unnecessary anxiety for the public."

Manx Radio has invited Ms Edge to respond.