Strengthening of healthcare relationship supported

Politicians have backed a move to strengthen the relationship between the health department and Manx Care, however fears were raised over the potential "blurring" of lines of accountability.

Plans were outlined by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to improve healthcare governance in the wake of an independent review.

Mersey Internal Audit Agency's report found there were "fundamental issues" with how Manx Care could operate independently from the government.

DHSC Minister Claire Christian said simplifying and strengthening the relationship would be a "meaningful shift in how we plan, fund, oversee and deliver care".

Members voted in support of progressing work towards that governance model, with more detailed design work, including the legislative changes required, due to be set out in a report for Tynwald approval in June.

There was also support for an amendment by Juan Watterson SHK to prioritise tackling the main issues identified in the review - which included funding and strategy, core processes, governance, and communication and engagement - as well as identifying key actions, timescales and metrics.

Watterson had argued that a number of actions identified in the review did not need to wait for the adoption of a new governance model to be undertaken.

"We must remember that we are on a burning platform, Manx Care is continually overspending and underperforming," he said.

MHK Lawrie Hooper's bid for the detailed plan to be put before Tynwald in December - following September's general election - for approval by the new administration did not gain support.

Manx Care was in 2021 following recommendations by former NHS Foundation Trust boss Sir Jonathan Michael as part of a review of the island's national health service.

During the debate, Julie Edge MHK argued that strengthening the partnership between Manx Care and the DHSC could "blur the lines of accountability".

"When services fail, we need to be able to point towards a line of responsibility, not a partnership," she added.

Michelle Haywood MHK said she was concerned decision making would be "more complicated because there are more people across those systems" , which would risk"introducing even more complexity and delay".

MLC Kirstie Morphet argued it was "yet another review resulting in a call for bureaucratic and structural change" .

She said: "These internal reorganisations and reprioritisations rarely translate into meaningful improvements for the Manx public."

But Christian argued that reform needed to "proceed without delay".

in a move welcomed by many, she told politicians that the department may in time consider whether certain services could be commissioned directly, where it would support better outcomes.

The proposed governance model "allows clearer decision making, better financial governance, stronger integration with the voluntary sector and a more united approach to serving the public", she added.

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