Manx Care urged to protect frontline services from further cuts

The Council of Ministers has rejected proposed health cost saving measures

Government has instructed Manx Care to refrain from further cuts to frontline services, rejecting some of the health body’s cost-saving proposals.

Manx Care has been managing a near-£20 million overspend and has recently started reducing patient-facing services, bringing that projected overspend down to £15.2m.

Despite previously stating that frontline services would only be affected as a last resort, and that it had already reviewed 195 other areas for savings, the Council of Ministers has directed Manx Care to seek alternative savings that “do not directly impact patients”.

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan has committed to an “intense period of engagement between DHSC and Manx Care to improve governance and realign the mandate and service provision with the budget available for next year”.

He adds “no-one wants to see frontline provision diminished, but we have a clear responsibility to deliver health and social care services within the allocated budget.”

Manx Care Chief Executive Teresa Cope said: “I welcome this decision by Council, but also recognise the responsibility we have to deliver our services within budget.

“It is difficult, and at times complex, to fully control all aspects of health and social care spending, but we welcome the opportunity presented to improve the framework under which we operate and most importantly the opportunity for better outcomes for our patients, service users and the Manx taxpayer.”