Teresa Cope: Reaction as Manx Care CEO steps down

What comes next for the Island's healthcare provider?

Manx Care’s Chief Executive Teresa Cope will leave her role in the summer.

Having been appointed in 2021, she’s been at the helm of the healthcare provider for the past five-and-a-half years.

Between the Covid-19 pandemic, fiery budget debates and some incredibly stark audit reports, Manx Care’s early years, it’s fair to say, have been turbulent.  

Ms Cope’s pending departure was revealed after a notice was issued to members of staff at the organisation this morning (12 May).

In it, Teresa Cope said the decision to leave was very much a personal one, saying after 36 years of continuous service in health and care she intends to move onto new opportunities in the Autumn; not before spending ‘a couple of months off’ and enjoying a summer on the Island.

Timing is another factor in her decision, Ms Cope says.

This week the Manx Care Board is set to approve its review of the past five years which she says, "recognises the considerable progress Manx Care has made during this time to improve the health and care services for the Island's population".

With that in mind, Teresa Cope believes it’s the "right time" to step down from the role as chief executive.

“Improvements can be made”

The official statement which followed from Manx Care shed a little more light on the reason for her departure.

Thanking Teresa for her efforts over the past five years, Health Minister Claire Christian said the ongoing governance review has "pointed to a range of areas in which things are working well, but also areas where improvements can be made and Tynwald have asked for these areas to be reviewed and opportunities for any improvements to come back.

Minister Christian describes it as "Teresa’s decision to move on to the next chapter of her career", but it's a decision, she says, which will allow them the opportunity to conclude the review before proceeding to recruit her successor.

The independent governance review commissioned by government last year and carried out by the Mersey Internal Audit Agency identified ‘fundamental issues’ with Manx Care.

The report by the MIAA found 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.

Read more HERE.

Approached by Manx Radio during today’s sitting of the House of Keys, the minister refused to comment further on Ms Cope’s departure.

Meanwhile, Chair of the Manx Care Board Professor Wendy Reid is quoted as saying: “The formation of Manx Care from a standing start was a huge ask, and undoubtedly there has been progress across many areas of governance, transparency and most importantly care on the Island.

She adds: "On behalf of the board of directors I would like to thank Teresa personally for her hard work, dedication and commitment during these years and together with the Department of Health and Social Care we look forward to supporting the conclusion of the governance review and will continue to work with Teresa on appropriate handover planning.”

“The worst job on the Island”

The role of Manx Care’s chief executive comes with a weighty pay packet (first advertised as ‘up to £160,000 per year’) but, of course, it comes with a heft of responsibility for the Island’s 84,000+ population.

So, it is entirely reasonable, and expected, that the person holding that role is placed under the microscope, held to account, and subjected to constant scrutiny.

Amongst the wealth of online comments posted when the news of Ms Cope’s departure became public were several phrases about sinking ships and the old idiom about the door on your way out.

But amidst the many comments on Manx Radio’s Facebook page, some took a more sympathetic view of Ms Cope’s departure, one musing that hers must be “the worst job on the Island” to have.

It’s likely many tirades issued around the water cooler today will end with, “…but, that said, I wouldn’t want her job.”

“Late at night, early in the morning, and over weekends”

One person who has come out in support of Ms Cope is former Health Minister and Onchan MHK Rob Callister.

On his Facebook page, Mr Callister acknowledged the scrutiny levelled on Ms Cope, saying: “As chief executive, Teresa has been under immense pressure from the outset, often facing sustained public criticism, despite her full commitment, resilience, and dedication to public service.

“Throughout her time in the role, those qualities have been consistently evident.

He also praised Ms Cope’s work ethic, adding that she’s “personally responded to hundreds of pieces of correspondence I have sent her over the past five years on behalf of constituents”.

Mr Callister adds: “On many occasions, she replied late at night, early in the morning, and over weekends, all in an effort to help resolve urgent healthcare concerns for Island residents.”

Regular Mannin Line caller Juan also had a kind word for Ms Cope, describing her as “very amenable, easy to talk to, and pleasant”, adding: “she was given an overfull desk when she started and an uphill struggle”.

Who comes next?

As alluded to in the comments from the minister, and the chair of the Manx Care Board, succession planning – if it’s not already underway – will begin very shortly.

Afterall, the end of June is a matter of weeks away, not months.

Mr Callister argues that it is “vital” that the next chief executive of Manx Care is “fully focused on the delivery of care, service improvement, and the effective leadership of operational healthcare services across the Island”.

A prerequisite, you would think.

But Mr Callister says, in his view, the Manx Care Board also needs to take on “a stronger role” as the public face of health and social care services on the Island, i.e.: don’t put the burden of an entire organisation’s image on one person’s shoulders, especially someone who hasn’t been democratically elected.

Mr Callister proposes a solution; a politically appointed chair and vice-chair who are both fully accountable to Tynwald and the people of the Isle of Man, for the future direction of health and social care services.

Whether the board decides to take that direction, or head in a completely new direction entirely, will be revealed in time.

In the days ahead we’ll keep pressing to speak to the those at the heart of this matter.

Meanwhile, Teresa Cope says her time at Manx Care will conclude at the end of June.

For now, she says, it's business as usual.