Manx Care 'disappointed' over results from doctor survey

Health body responds to BMA 'Culture of Care Barometer' 

Manx Care says it’s ‘disappointed’ in the results of a survey which shows doctors on the Isle of Man are ‘frustrated, overworked and don’t feel listened to’.

The health body has responded to the results of the British Medical Association’s ‘Culture of Care Barometer’ survey.

It was sent to all 155 doctors employed by Manx Care and is the third time the exercise has been given to this contingent.

The BMA has described the results as ‘sobering’ – you can find out more HERE.

In response Manx Care says it hears the ‘frustration’ of some of the medical workforce and will work closely with individuals to resolve the issues raised where it can.

Manx Care says each year it's worked with the BMA on a resulting action plan and the medical director and executive team are actively engaged with doctors and remain willing to listen.

It adds: “Over the last two years we have been successful in attracting permanent medical staff to work in Manx Care.

“This is a significant change and, our new colleagues tell us, testament to a changing culture within the organisation.

“This has reduced the reliance on bank and agency, with some significant success, and we are grateful to and greatly value our medical colleagues for the extra work that they have done (and continue to do) to deliver excellence patient care.

“We do have regular forums in which we engage with our doctors using the formal collective bargaining mechanism under the local negotiating committee as well as doctors being a fundamental part of the leadership structures in the parts of our organisation that deliver health care.

“It is important to note that our structures reflect a position where doctors are both line managed and professionally managed by doctors, rather than managers.

“We believe that this approach is absolutely correct and, are aiming, through restructure, to increase the level of medical leadership in this area of Manx Care.

“We also believe that there is a role for other professions to work with medical leadership using a multi-disciplinary approach to provide clinically led and managerially enabled leadership in the Directorate of Health Services within Manx Care.

 “We would like to emphasise that behaviours of individuals across the whole workforce, regardless of profession, should reflect our care values, with a focus on collaborative working, valuing all and moving forward to improve practice as a team.

“Our medical workforce is at the heart of the ongoing transformation programmes, for example, the development of care pathways where a medical representative is fundamental to each project.

“Manx Care acknowledges that the last two years in particular have been incredibly financially challenging, with savings of £10 million achieved across the whole health and social care system, and this year, the targets for savings are double that amount.

“This has meant that the Manx Care Board has had to make some unpalatable and difficult decisions.

“This has included restrictions on the money available to negotiate the pay settlement for doctors, which is still not resolved.

“To mitigate some of the impact of the ongoing negotiations on individuals the board recently agreed to pay six percent for last year following discussions with the BMA.

“It is recognised that this payment does not resolve the ongoing pay dispute, and discussions are ongoing, although the financial position makes it hard for the board to find the funding required to increase the offer.

“We fully recognise the difficulties that this situation generates for all parties and the impact it has on the morale of individuals.”

Manx Cares adds its ‘All Staff Survey’, which has gone out this week, will also give a ‘workforce-wide’ indication of staff morale.