Survey finds Manx Care doctors 'deeply frustrated'

It is the third time the survey has been carried out on the island

The results of a survey demonstrate the "deep frustrations" felt by doctors employed by Manx Care, the British Medical Association has said.

The Culture of Care Barometer poll found 74% of the 83 respondents would not recommend the healthcare provider as a good place to work.

Designed by the NHS and King's College London, the consultation also found 81% of those taking part did not feel the organisation had a positive culture.

Manx Care said it was "disappointed " that the results of the survey showed a "small percentage" of doctors remain "dissatisfied" with the organisation.

A total of 155 doctors employed by Manx Care were sent the survey, and 83 chose to respond.

The majority of doctors agreed they felt respected by their line manager, the people they worked with were friendly and they could rely on colleagues.

But nearly 80% did not think there was strong leadership at the highest level of the organisation, while 67% said they did not have the resources needed to do their job.

'Losing faith'

Chairman of the British Medical Association council Philip Banfield said he had found the results "no surprise" as he had repeatedly heard "just how deeply frustrated" doctors on the Isle of Man were at work over the last two years.

"The culture that doctors work in is intrinsically tied to the quality of care they are able to give, so these results should concern us all," he added.

Chairman of the Isle of Man Medical Society Prakash Thiagarajan said the group had been hopeful that the "poor results" of previous survey would "act as could act as a catalyst for change".

But with the third set of results "showing that doctors are frustrated, overworked, and crucially, don’t feel listened to" the society was "losing faith that Manx Care has the will to change things", he said.

In a statement the healthcare provider said the executive team was "actively engaged with doctors" and remained "willing to listen".

The body acknowledged that the last two years had been "incredibly financially challenging" and had meant that the board needed to make some "unpalatable and difficult decisions", including on pay negotiations with doctors.

Doctors were managed by other doctors, which Manx Care said it believed was "correct" and was aiming through restructuring to increase the level of medical leadership in the organisation.

"We hear the frustration of some of our medical workforce and will work closely with them to resolve the issues raised wherever we can," the statement added.