Health minister resigns over future funding

Lawrie Hooper has served as health minister for most of Alfred Cannan's administration

The Isle of Man's health minister has resigned from the position in a row with the chief minister over future funding.

Lawrie Hooper said his views and those of Alfred Cannan had become "increasingly diverged" over the money needed for Manx Care.

It follows a raft of cuts to services announced by the arm's length health care provider in a bid to reduce its forecast £16.8m overspend for the current financial year.

The chief minister, who has taken over the portfolio with immediate effect, said the island "cannot afford a healthcare system that is unable to control its expenditure".

Earlier in the sitting, Hooper had insisted Manx Care was being "underfunded" based on the recommendations in Sir Johnathan Michael's review, which had led to the creation of the arm's length model.

Announcing his resignation in a personal statement, he told Tynwald members that he did not believe Cannan was committed to fixing the health service, and he could not continue to serve a chief minister who "set out to both publicly and privately undermine my ability to do the job that is required".

He said the Council of Ministers had been presented with the potential affects of the cuts that the chief minister was "publicly calling for", but the "high risk of patient harm" had not changed the council's course.

Lawrie Hooper announced his resignation in a personal statement in Tynwald

Hooper said he had become "convinced" that the chief minister "wants to privatise the health service", which was not something he was "able to support".

The Council of Ministers had been asked to commit to a free at the point of use health service last week, but ministers had not been "willing to make this commitment", he said.

"As I fundamentally disagree with the course of action that has been decided upon I have no option but to resign," he added.

In response, Cannan said it was "abundantly clear" that the difference between Hooper's "ideology" and the "reality Manx Care finds itself in" was a "bridge too far for him".

He denied having any intention of privatising the island's health service but said further "strategic action" was needed, as overspending was "destabilising" government finances.

"Departments, including health, must stick to their budgets irrespective of whether they believe they are underfunded or not, and resolution in that respect is now needed for Manx Care," Cannan added.

He later confirmed would take over as minister for Health and Social Care "for a limited period" in order to "provide stability while considering options for the future political leadership of the department".

'Deeply concerned'

Following Hooper's resignation, Joney Faragher MHK also stepped down as a political member for the department.

She said she had become "more and more uncomfortable within the role, as budgetary shortfalls start to hit home".

"I am deeply concerned about the long-term impact this will have on our health services," she added.

In a joint statement, the chairman of Manx Care Wendy Reid and chief executive Teresa Cope thanked Hooper for his "support, wise guidance and challenge during the inception and early years of our development".

"We have valued his insight and clarity on many issues," the statement added.

Earlier this year, the government announced a 2% increase in the higher rate of income tax, ringfenced for health and social care spending.

February's budget saw Manx Care's budget for the 2024-25 financial year rise by £43m to £346m.

Last year, it also received an additional £18.3m to reduce waiting lists in orthopaedics, general surgery and ophthalmology after Tynwald approved the move.