Manx Care mandate the 'largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen'

Ramsey MHK brands plans 'a clearly stated intention to cut NHS services and push people towards private options'

The former health minister says government's Mandate to Manx Care - and the health body's subsequent Operating Plan for 2025/26 - evidence a forthcoming 'horrific reduction in service level' for the people of the Isle of Man.

Both documents are due to be laid before Tynwald later this month; with a 'general debate' proposed on the matter by current Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian.

This means members will debate the documents but the plans themselves are not subject to a vote.

PLANS

Manx Care is planning to reduce hospital bed capacity, change prescription eligibility criteria and increase private healthcare options as part of efforts to save money.

A number of initiatives have been outlined as part of the Operating Plan for 2025/26.

They include:

• Reduction in acute hospital (mental/physical) bed capacity to support out of hospital care models
• Changes to prescription eligibility criteria
• Enhanced rostering controls and oversight to further reduce spend on bank and agency staff
• More cost-effective delivery of care in hospital and community
• Reduced spend on off-Island provision through greater control and repatriating activity
• Reduced spend on consumables
• Reductions in corporate service provision
• Increased private healthcare and commercial income
• Job planning
• More cost-effective commissioning models in social care

You can find out more here.

'ASSAULT' ON NHS

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper has branded the plans 'a clearly stated intention to cut NHS services and push people towards private options'.

He told Manx Radio's Chanelle Sukhoo the mandate amounts to the 'largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen':

BUDGET

Last month Mr Hooper warned of further cuts to health services due to the amount allocated for Manx Care in this year's Budget.

Mr Hooper argued in Tynwald (18 February) that if Manx Care has been forced to cut services already - with a budget of £360 million - we'll see more in the coming months as it has been allocated £3 million less this year.

You can read more here.

CONCERNS

Mr Hooper has branded this week's documents as 'unbelievable' and highlighted several points he views as cause for concern.

Within the health body's Operating Plan is an aim 'Manx Care will endeavour to maintain Emergency Department waiting times so that no less than 78 percent of patients are admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival in the department by March 2026'.

However it then goes on to admit that 'constraining and reducing elective activity could have a negative impact on this target in 2025/26 were a patient’s condition to worsen and they seek emergency care instead'.

Mr Hooper told Manx Radio that amounts to saying: "I'm really sorry, we're not going to treat people. We're going to delay treatment, which means they might get so ill that they need to go to A&E and that's going to affect our A&E wait times."

RESPONSE

Manx Radio has approached the Department of Health and Social Care for comment in response to Mr Hooper's remarks - we are due to speak to the DHSC Minister Claire Christian on Monday (10 March).

You can listen to the full interview here: