The Island’s health and social care budget has again been protected at the same time as Treasury delivers on its promise to rebalance the Island’s budget by 2015-16.
Although there is a headline reduction in the budget for the Department of Health and Social Care, this relates to the Housing Deficiency Fund. Frontline health and social care services are not affected.
Government has worked to reduce spending, whilst ensuring that the Budget is targeted to deliver core services, particularly the protection of the vulnerable through health and social care services, which is one of Government’s three priorities.
The 2015-16 Budget sees an additional £2 million for the Health Inspection Fund, taking it to £4.1 million. The Fund was announced in last year’s Budget and was created to support the Department in implementing the changes required from the external peer reviews by the West Midlands Quality Review Service and the Department’s review of the UK’s Francis Report.
The Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said:
“The protection of the health and social care budget demonstrates Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our community and targeting resources at core services. Good quality health and social care remains at the heart of Government’s agenda.”
Despite the protection of the Department’s budget, the underlying issue of how to make services affordable and sustainable in the long term remains. Minister Quayle announced in his response to the Budget that he will be leading a national debate on the future of health and social care services later this year.
The Minister added:
“We have been working to develop a new vision and strategy for the Department. We cannot ignore the growing demand for services driven by an ageing population, medical advances, rising expectations and the growing number of chronic and lifestyle related conditions.
“We need to turn the system on its head and drive an agenda that promotes prevention and early detection. But this will require change, and as part of our national debate, we will explore what a sustainable health and social care system for the Isle of Man might look like and how it could be funded.”
The Minister also outlined the achievements that have been possible in the past 12 months, aided in part by last year’s 2.5% budget increase.
- The Minister highlighted his commitment to address the situation of frail patients having to travel to the UK for treatment for Age Related ‘Wet’ Macular Degeneration. An on-Island service launched in January.
- 30 new nursing posts have been agreed for Noble’s Hospital to meet the growing demand for more complex care.
- Two new Shared Equity Schemes for first time home buyers were introduced.
- New IT systems for health were approved, representing a significant investment.
- The Department, due to its large scale catering operations at Noble’s Hospital, took on the management of catering services across Government. The new shared service has turned around the fortunes of the National Sports Centre café which had suffered annual losses of £150,000. The scheme to reduce the cost of catering across Government is on target to deliver savings.
- The new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Noble’s Hospital is nearing completion, with approval given by Tynwald for a new Endoscopy Suite to also be developed.
- The Adult Social Care team has continued its Rebalancing Programme, developing a new Reablement Service to support older people who wish to remain independent in their own homes.
The Minister concluded:
“Much has been achieved over the past year that we can be proud of. Our Budget for the coming year allows us to safeguard this work and drive further reform. But it is clear that change will be necessary for long term sustainability.”
