A new Bill designed to transform the Isle of Man's National Health Service (NHS) into a National Health and Care Service (NHSC) had its first reading in the House of Keys yesterday.
The National Health and Care Service Bill 2016 would change the name of the NHS – founded in 1948 – to include the word 'care'.
The proposal reflects the Department's ongoing efforts to integrate the delivery of health and social care, one of the five key goals of the Department's five year strategy.
The aim of integrating care is to make services more convenient for patients and users whilst also being more efficient and cost effective.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said: 'The Isle of Man Government wants to create a single health and social care service; one that offers truly integrated and joined-up care for the public. This Bill will contribute towards that ambition, giving the Department a modern framework upon which it can develop and strengthen services in a rapidly changing environment.
'An important component of the Bill is a newly proposed National Health and Care Service Charter. It would, for the first time, set out the Department's general commitments for the provision of health and care services in the Isle of Man, in a single published document.'
If passed, the Act would be supplemented with specific measures – called Schemes – which would set out the extent of NHCS care provision in the Isle of Man and the standards which must be adhered to. The Schemes, which would be laid before Tynwald, would also be subject to independent monitoring and review to ensure the Department delivers high quality, safe and cost effective care.
The Schemes would require the Department to have equal regard for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of physical and mental health. They would also oblige the Department to ensure that care offers value for money by being cost effective, fair and sustainable.
A draft of the Bill, which includes a number of other provisions, was put out to public consultation last autumn and received nineteen responses, which the Department considered, and from which a summary report has been published.
