MHKs concerned about 'cancelled' medical treatments

Patients claim they've been told they can't have surgery in UK

MHKs say they are receiving ‘worried messages’ from people on the Island who are claiming medical treatment, including surgery, is being cancelled.

In the House of Keys this week Douglas East’s Joney Faragher was due to ask the Health and Social Care Minister if elective surgeries were being reduced.

She also wanted to know if the DHSC was planning any other cuts to services.

However, the urgent question was left unanswered due to the absence of Minister Claire Christian; it will be asked next week instead.

In a post on social media Ms Faragher says she ‘can’t believe government has pushed this (changes) through without telling people’.

She adds: “It’s a huge change to our healthcare services and will have an impact on all of us.”

Fellow backbench MHK, and former DHSC Minister, Lawrie Hooper says he’s also heard about ‘cancelled theatre lists with surgeries being cancelled or postponed’.

He’s described the situation as ‘the stories you hope never to hear’.

The Ramsey politician is asking people to contact him if they have been affected saying he doesn’t want to cause ‘unnecessary alarm’ but it’s ‘impossible’ to get information out of ‘official channels’.

Manx Radio has also been contacted by patients claiming that hospitals in Liverpool have told them the Isle of Man Government will not fund any operations, apart from emergencies, until the end of March. 

In Tynwald last week the DHSC Minister said she wasn’t aware of any planned cuts by Manx Care to pay for a new deal with doctors.

That was agreed today – you can find out more HERE.