Manx Care defines its 'top ten successes for 2024'

Health minister asked for list of achievements in Tynwald written question

Manx Care has defined its 'top ten successes of 2024' following a prompt from a Rushen MHK.

Speaker of the House of Keys, Juan Watterson, asked Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian for the information in a Tynwald written question.

In the answer published on 20 March, the health minister revealed Manx Care stated its top ten successes as:

• Accreditations
• Significant steps in the Women & Children’s Care Group
• Opening of Summerhill View
• Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre (MISH) opened
• Critical Care Peer Review
• Home-grown professionals
• Key initiatives in mental health
• Securing new visiting consultants with on-Island clinics
• Opening of the Ambulatory Assessment & Treatment Unit (AATU)
• Primary Care Developments

Accreditations

The healthcare body says it has 'received several notable accreditations and accolades this year'.

These include: the operating departments received a two-year accreditation from the Association for Perioperative Practice for 'maintaining high standards in skills and knowledge enhancement, focusing on safer surgery, management, and accountability'.

Noble’s Hospital earned accreditation from the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy for 'effective antimicrobial stewardship, crucial in preventing resistance and improving patient outcomes'.

The Anticoagulation Clinic has been 'ranked among the best in the British Isles, based on a report benchmarking it against 80 UK sites'.

The Mortuary team was 'honoured with the Community Partnership Award for their compassionate and professional service, providing support to bereaved families with sensitivity and respect'. 

Woman and Children's Care Group

The healthcare body says it has taken 'significant steps in the Women and Children’s Care Group'.

It highlights the introduction of Baby Loss Certificates and the creation of the Bluebell Suite - a private space for parents experiencing miscarriage and baby loss, 'offering comfort and care'. 

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) also opened to 'provide dedicated support for families in the early stages of pregnancy, ensuring separate care from other maternity patients'. 

Summerhill View

The third highlight from the healthcare body is the opening of Summerhill View care home, which was completed in 2024 by the Department of Health and Social Care.

It opened to residents in November.

MISH

Another site which opened in the last year was the Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre (MISH).

The new clinic incorporates a fully integrated service, providing a ‘one stop shop’ for a full range of contraception options, testing, management and treatment of all sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, 'thus avoiding the need for the patient to attend numerous appointments held over different locations as was the case previously'. 

Critical care

Members of the Cheshire and Merseyside Major Trauma Network (CMMTN) carried out a peer review of Noble’s Hospital Trauma Unit against national and regional standards. 

Manx Care says the 'main outcome from the review was the "significant improvement" from the previous year'. 

Home-grown

Another highlight according to Manx Care was the establishment of a new partnership with Wrexham University, which means that Island students who take a degree in Paramedic Science can complete their clinical placements on Island. 

Furthermore, a partnership with the University of Salford established in 2021 allows Island students who take a degree in Midwifery to complete their clinical placements on Island. 

The first midwife to qualify after completing all of her practical education on Island did so this year.

Mental health

The healthcare body says 'several key initiatives have successfully launched' in terms of mental health support.

These include:

• The appointment of a Domestic Violence Trained Practitioner and the introduction of a new Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) service, following on-Island training
• The creation of a Peri-Natal Mental Health Team
• The Mental Health First Contact Practitioner service launched in Peel and South
• A dementia-friendly lounge was opened in ward 6 of Noble’s Hospital
• CAMHS “Talk” service for young people and their families. 

Consultants

The next highlight according to Manx Care was the securing of 'new visiting consultants with on-Island clinics'.

It says: "A highly qualified Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon who specialises in foot and ankle surgery is now offering on-Island initial clinic appointments and follow-up appointments. 

"Additionally, a joint venture between Manx Care and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) means that patients can now also see a Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon on-Island for their initial appointment and follow up rather than travelling away."

Ambulatory assessment

The Ambulatory Assessment & Treatment Unit (AATU) was also opened in the last year.

The facility 'allows patients to remain independent by supporting same day or next day care, avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions'.

The body says it also 'supports earlier discharge of suitable inpatients, enabling them to return home sooner and receive follow-up care within AATU as needed'.

Primary care

Finally, Manx Care highlighted 'Primary Care Developments'.

It said: "Musculoskeletal Outpatients Physiotherapy Service expanded into the community. 

"Manx Care took over the management of Hillside Dental Practice to continue to provide services for patients. 

"New Eye Care Liaison Officer is working between hospital, community, social care and third sector (Sight Matters) to deliver a needs-led, informative and responsive approach for people with sight loss."

Written answer

Mr Watterson challenged a supplementary vote in the court last week, which would've seen the Department of Health and Social Care’s budget increase for the financial year.

It means an additional £20 million for healthcare has not yet been approved.