Episodes
This week is International Control Room Week, and we've been getting a behind-the-scenes look at ours.First up today is Greg Norton.He's the Emergency Services Joint Control Room Operations Manager and has been telling Amy Griffiths what the role of the ESJCR is:
The chief minister has hit back at comments made by the former Health Minister calling him 'disingenuous' for continuing to make broader comments about the council of ministers' position. It's after Lawrie Hooper said CoMin ‘completely ignored’ information provided by Manx Care about the impact on service delivery if cuts were made.
The RNLI says it understands the frustrations of lifeboat crew working in Douglas saying it remains ‘absolutely committed’ to providing the capital with a new vessel and suitable station.A consultation, and data review, is being launched later this month (28 October) to assess which lifeboat would be best suited to the capital.The current Mersey boat will be coming out of service next year; the existing station has also been condemned leaving volunteers working from a temporary base.Jo Partner is Head of Region for Wales, West and the Isle of Man and spoke to Chanelle Sukhoo:
We would be surprised if you hadn't heard what happened in the first Tynwald after the summer recess - but just in case, Phil Gawne takes you through the highlights. Probably one to listen to with a strong cup of tea...
The chief minister says he will be considering who should be the next health and social care minister over the coming days.It follows the dramatic resignation of former post-holder Lawrie Hooper and a subsequent war-of-words with Alfred Cannan. The political spat has raised questions about confidence in Mr Cannan's leadership - and that of the Council of Ministers - with calls from some for a vote of no confidence. Manx Radio’s Political Correspondent Phil Gawne has been speaking to him:
An MHK says she was 'ethically unable' to continue in her role within the Department of Health and Social Care.Joney Faragher tendered her resignation shortly after Health Minister Lawrie Hooper stepped down.She says she fundamentally disagrees with the direction she believes CoMIN is travelling in when it comes to healthcare funding:
A southern MHK believes the time is now to start having conversations around a potential no-confidence vote in the current administration.Speaking on Manx Radio Breakfast Arbory, Castletown and Malew's Tim Glover described the scene that played out in Tynwald yesterday with Health Minister Lawrie Hooper and department member Joney Faragher submitting their resignations as 'a mess'.
The chief minster says Lawrie Hooper is 'clutching at straws' after quitting as health minister.The Ramsey MHK is accusing Alfred Cannan of wanting to privatise the NHS.But Mr Cannan has refuted these claims.
Manx Radio's Phil Gawne speaks to Lawrie Hooper, who has today resigned from his post as Health and Social Care Minister.The Ramsey MHK made the announcement in the first Tynwald session back after the summer recess.
Lawrie Hooper has resigned from his post as Health and Social Care Minister.The Ramsey MHK made the announcement today (15 October) in the first Tynwald session back after the summer recess.He told the court that "resigning is the last card I have left to play":
The cost of running the Island's healthcare services has been a big talking point over the last couple of weeks.As Manx Care announces cuts to services, questions have been raised over how the organisation is financed, and whether the model is sustainable.In this episode of the Manx Newscast, Manx Care Chief Executive Teresa Cope tells Manx Radio what she thinks needs to be done to tackle the funding challenges, and responds to comments from an MHK that Manx Care is 'holding a gun to the head of government'.
Douglas Council says the formation of a housing association is putting a 'plaster' on a bigger issue. Leader Claire Wells believes the solution to the current crisis lies with fixing the 'broken' funding mechanism for social housing. The local authority is the largest housing provider on the Island and has requested the Department of Infrastructure increase social housing rents by seven percent next year.
An Isle of Man charity has been donated a former Fire and Rescue Service fire engine which will be driven to the war torn country before the end of this month and handed over to volunteer firefighters in Mykolaiv. Simon Richardson takes up the story.
Manx Utilities chief, Phil King, talks to Simon Richardson about a planned all-Island consultation on proposals for the Cair Vie onshore windfarm at Earystane in the south of the Island.
Christian Jones sits down with Dr Prakash Thiagarajan from the British Medical Association to analyse the results of a survey of Manx Care doctors, which reveals a lack of confidence in management, low morale and a poor culture.
Siobhán Fletcher sits down with Manx Care Chief Executive Teresa Cope to talk further cuts announced by the healthcare body to save money this financial year.
Manx Care says it's had to make some tough decisions to try and avoid overspending this year.But what exactly is putting the healthcare provider under such pressure?Sian and Ben have been speaking to the Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson to find out:
The Manx Labour Party says it stands 'resolutely' with healthcare being free at the point of use and a 'strongly resists' charges being introduced or services cut.It comes as Manx Care warns of 'unpalatable decisions' being made in order to balance the books.The political party is calling for a renewed look at tax reform, saying thresholds for higher earners have been left untouched whilst workers bear an 'unequal burden'.In this edition of Newscast, Party leader and DHSC Member Joney Faragher tells Manx Radio why the MLP believes Manx Care is underfunded, not overbudget.
The Department for Enterprise has ruled out adding politicians to the list of 'prescribed persons' in whistleblowing cases due to concerns over confidentiality and potential politicisation.That's despite a majority of respondents to a public consultation supporting Tynwald members being recognised as someone to whom a disclosure can be made. Thirty-three percent were opposed.In this edition of Newscast, Onchan MHK Julie Edge tells Manx Radio's Sian Cowper why she is bringing forward proposals to reverse the department's decision.
The health minister says he doesn't think a decision to cut elective surgery procedures for up to six months would have been taken by Manx Care if it had been given any other options.Lawrie Hooper told Manx Radio while the move is technically a decision made by the health body it's come at the 'behest of those on high'.
A Ramsey MHK believes government needs to be getting involved in the ongoing situation with the Northern Civic Amenity Site. Lawrie Hooper says a 'solution' could be to remove the quarry rates income from Bride Commissioners and use this money to fund the £67,000 shortfall. The joint committee which operates the site claims that Bride is ‘determined’ to ‘ignore logic and respect’ for the rates system which pays for services.
Government is 'out of touch' with the challenges Manx residents face when it comes to housing, according to one MHK.It's after the infrastructure minister said it's 'impossible' to calculate a market value for affordable housing .Douglas South member Claire Christian says quoting prescriptive selling prices without considering market conditions creates 'more confusion than clarity'.She told Amy Griffiths she wants government to take the housing crisis more seriously:
Siobhán Fletcher sits down with Manx Care Chief Executive Teresa Cope to talk plans to slash surgical lists.She responds to listener concerns and critiques from the Isle of Man Medical Society, and says 'unpalatable' decisions are 'necessary' to balance the books.
A pensioner from Ramsey has told Manx Radio he's 'aghast' at how much he's paying for his heating each month in a sheltered housing complex. It's because the facility is charged a commercial rate for its energy rather than residential. Chanelle Sukhoo has been speaking to Eric Corkish and Ramsey Commissioner Luke Parker:
Planned changes by Manx Care to slash surgical lists will lead to people waiting longer to be treated according to the Isle of Man Medical Society.The healthcare body is reducing the number of elective theatre sessions by an average of 5.5 per week as a cost-cutting measure.The society's President Elect, Dr Sean Crerand, and Chair, Dr Prakash Thiagarajan, told Siobhan Fletcher it will 'exacerbate' an already significant backlog:
A 'hoard' of Viking coins that's been discovered on the Isle of Man will be on display for the public to view at the Manx Museum from today (2 October). Manx Radio's Chanelle Sukhoo spoke to one of the people that discovered the 36 silver coins, David O'Hare and the curator of archaeology at Manx National Heritage, Alison Fox.
Isle of Man Meats is hoping to tackle a 'global shortage' by offering apprenticeships to wannabe butchers.The 18 month course gives the students hands-on training to learn the essential skills.Harry Lewis and Ethan Perry are the first apprentices to take it on.They've been telling Amy Griffiths more along with Kelley Corlett from Isle of Man Meats:
Vice Chair of the Manx Motorcycle Club Jim Hunter tells us about the trip he's been on to Ukraine delivering equipment to schools there.He also gives us glimpse of what life is like for those living with the constant threat of conflict and describes the warm welcome he and his party have received.
A couple from London have raised more than £120,000 to fund a new D-class inshore lifeboat which will help the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.The RNLI-911 challenge started a month ago and saw James and Belinda Richardson travel 911 hours in a Porsche 911 to all the lifeboat stations in the UK.At 9.11 this morning their journey came to an end as they checked in at the final station in Peel.
Many small Islands around the world share similar problems when it comes to provision of healthcare. Now, KPMG has launched a global healthcare hub for small islands, enabling them to share experience and best practice to tailor their approach to the specific needs of their people.