Manx Care defends new leadership roles and service changes

Says they have delivered the same hours of surgery as they did in the same period last year

Manx Care has issued a statement defending a number of new leadership roles and service changes which have 'received a lot of public attention'.

It follows the news that fourteen management posts have been created in Manx Care since the board's formation in 2021 - at a cost of more than £800,000 per year.

That figure was published in response to a Tynwald question from Onchan MHK Julie Edge.

The healthcare body says it's 'essential to clarify' that both the creation of those roles and the temporary reduction in elective surgeries 'are entirely separate, and address distinct strategic and operational needs, each grounded in best practices for sustainable health and social care'.

It says 'it is wholly incorrect to draw any conclusions that these necessary financial measures are related in any way to the introduction of 14 leadership roles that have been appointed to over the last three years'.

It argues many of them are 'critical roles' and that without them, Manx Care would face substantial risks, including non-compliance with the Island’s regulators and inspectorates, and that a number of them directly respond to the recommendations of the Independent COVID-19 Review, led by Kate Brunner KC, which were accepted in principle by Tynwald.

ELECTIVE SURGERY

Separately, the board has released new figures which it says shows that despite the recent reduction in the number of theatre sessions allocated, a review of patient activity of the last five weeks has shown that they have delivered the same hours of surgery during this period as they did in the same period last year, due to 'service improvements and improved theatre efficiency'. 

Essentially, they say 'this means that the time surgeons have been operating on patients has not reduced due to these cost-saving measures'.

It says: "Despite a planned reduction in the number of theatre sessions allocated to ENT, Gynaecology and General Surgery specialties, a review of patient activity has shown that surgeons have delivered the same hours in surgery in the five weeks since 16 September 2024 as they did for the same period in the financial year 2023/24. 

"This achievement is testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of our clinical and operational staff, who have focused on enhancing productivity to help ensure minimal impact on patient experience."

Chief Executive Teresa Cope added: "We are very proud of our teams for their commitment to improving efficiency and for maintaining the highest standards of patient care throughout this period. 

"Our clinical leadership team have, and continue to closely monitor the impact of this programme to continue delivering quality services in the face of necessary operational adjustments.”

Manx Care's statement in full: "Manx Care acknowledges recent public discussions regarding the temporary reduction in elective surgeries and the introduction of new leadership roles. It is essential to clarify that these two decisions are entirely separate and address distinct strategic and operational needs, each grounded in best practices for sustainable health and social care.

"The temporary reduction in elective surgeries is part of a focused financial recovery strategy, aimed at managing our overspend and reducing monthly costs of theatre and anaesthetic bank staffing. This measure supports our commitment to maintaining the resilience of Manx Care’s services without compromising patient safety or care quality.  Recruitment efforts are underway to fill critical vacancies in theatre teams, and a recent review has tasked management with optimising theatre productivity to ensure efficient use of resources. These reductions are temporary, and Manx Care is dedicated to restoring elective surgeries as soon as operational capacity allows.

"Despite the recent reduction in the number of theatre sessions allocated, a review of patient activity of last five weeks has shown that we have delivered the same hours of surgery during this period as we did in the same period last year, due to service improvements and improved theatre efficiency.  

"It is wholly incorrect to draw any conclusions that these necessary financial measures are related in any way to the introduction of 14 leadership roles that have been appointed to over the last three years. These roles are critical to strengthening Manx Care’s governance, operational safety, efficiency, compliance with regulatory standards, and supporting front-line staff in delivering safe high-quality care. Without these leadership positions, Manx Care would face substantial risks, including non-compliance with the Island’s regulators and inspectorates, all of which would compromise our ability to deliver safe health and care services to the Isle of Man’s population.

"Furthermore, a number of these leadership roles directly respond to the recommendations of the Independent COVID-19 Review, led by Kate Brunner KC, which were accepted in principle by Tynwald. The review underscored the importance of effective governance and leadership in navigating both current and future challenges within health and care systems. By implementing these recommendations, Manx Care is taking decisive steps to secure its operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and organisational stability, ultimately safeguarding the quality of care for our patients and service users.

"Manx Care remains fully committed to transparency, responsible stewardship, and delivering high-quality care. We welcome ongoing dialogue and are confident that these strategic decisions will strengthen Manx Care, ensuring that we are well-positioned to provide reliable, efficient, and compliant services to the Isle of Man community for years to come."