Healthcare 'top priority' for many ahead of 2026 general election

Survey places health services as number one topic for Manx Radio listeners

The Island's health and social care services look set to be in the spotlight at this year's House of Keys General Election.

It's as a survey of Manx Radio listeners placed 'Manx Care / Noble's Hospital' as the number one topic that they cared the most about.

And it's easy to see why - with health services on the Island often dominating headlines.

Whilst putting together our News Review of 2025 programme, it was certainly a common theme I saw time and time again, and it's one I've now reported on countless times.

From proposed strikes by healthcare professionals, to a very public row between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Manx Care over communication of cuts, the Island's health services seem to be perpetually under the spotlight.

We've even had a protest in the form of a dramatic resignation from a health minister during the course of the last administration.

Indeed, the debate rattles on around Budget time every year - is the Island's health and social care body overspending? Or is it underfunded?

The answer to that never seems to be nailed down, but the amount of money spent on the Island's health service is a topic often discussed by politicians and keyboard warriors alike.

The message from the Cannan administration has remained consistent for many months now, with the chief minister warning that he believes 'healthcare spending on the Isle of Man cannot continue to rise at its current pace without difficult choices being made elsewhere'.

But bodies like the Isle of Man Trades Union Council have asserted that the Island's health service remains unfit for purpose, and that the 'time has come for the chief minister to explain why the system delivered under his leadership has not met the promises made'.

MIAA REPORT

This year's electioneering - from sitting members and ambitious candidates alike - will undoubtedly focus on the Mersey Internal Audit Agency (MIAA)'s report.

You can read all about the report HERE.

Essentially, the independent report found that the current health and social care model in the Isle of Man 'is not operating as well as originally intended' following the establishment of Manx Care.

It found that 'the size and scale of the Island, along with its governance and funding structures, have limited the ability of Manx Care to fully function as an independent arm’s-length body' and identifies 'several fundamental issues that are affecting the core foundations of the current model'.

Four 'strategic options' were produced to try and rectify the issues:

• OPTION 1: Do nothing
• OPTION 2: Fully implement the Sir Jonathan Michael independent review recommendations
• OPTION 3: Strengthen the partnership between Manx Care and DHSC
• OPTION 4: Reintegrate Manx Care with the DHSC

Options two and three were deemed the most 'viable', and as such were more explicitly explored in the report.

But will option four be favoured by prospective candidates? And will that get them your vote in the polls? Time will tell.

The MIAA report was debated by Tynwald in December to mixed results.

Members agreed to receive the report and voted for the DHSC to report to next month's sitting of Tynwald for debate with a full response and implementation plan.

"Manx Care welcomes the opportunity to review governance arrangements and reflect on how effectively the current delivery model is working as we continue striving to provide sustainable, high-quality services for the people of the Isle of Man.

"The report confirms that “Manx Care as a delivery model is the right model” and notes that stakeholder interviews have highlighted notable improvements to health and social care services since Manx Care’s establishment.

"Manx Care welcomes this review and supports greater partnership working with DHSC and wider government which will enable our health and care system to operate with greater quality and efficiency, achieving improved outcomes for the population we serve." - Manx Care response to MIAA report, November 2025.

It remains to be seen what the DHSC will bring to Tynwald in February, and whether it will be successfully implemented before the general election, but it's probably safe to say that healthcare will be a top priority for many as they look to the polling booth this year.

The 2026 House of Keys General Election will take place on 24 September.