Call for reforms to governance of health care body

Manx Care recently announced an estimated £16.8m overspend for the 2024-25 financial year

Tynwald members are set to be asked to back making reforms to the Isle of Man's health service, which include having a politician shadow the provider's board.

The four-part motion by Chris Thomas MHK, which is tabled for debate in October, also calls for a review of how Manx Care board members are appointed.

The item is set to be seconded by Andrew Smith MHK, who said greater "budgetary control" was needed as regular overspending on health was having an impact on "every other department".

The island's healthcare provider and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have been asked for a comment.

Mr Thomas said the governance of Manx Care needed to be "revisited and changed" as there were "profound problems particularly with public satisfaction".

He said Health Minister Lawrie Hooper had "megaphoned what Manx Care says", which was "not fair" as the healthcare provider was "not speaking for itself" in Tynwald.

'Rebuild and refresh'

Mr Thomas said a shadow political member of the board, which would mirror political positions without a vote on other statutory boards such as the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority, could act as a "communicator" in the parliament and elsewhere.

However, he insisted the proposal would not amount to "political inference" but would leave the DHSC to oversee and set policy.

The current law, which excludes a politician from sitting on the board, would need to be changed if the move were to be backed.

The motion also backs a previous call from the Isle of Man Medical Society for the incorporation of a professional executive committee, made up of clinicians and managers, into the governance framework of the body.

Mr Thomas said reviewing the mechanics of the board could "rebuild and refresh relationships" between its members and medical staff as there "currently seemed to be a disconnect".

Mr Smith, a political member for Treasury, said he was under "no illusions" about the challenge of providing a "care system that satisfies everyone" but "more political oversight" was needed.