A further round of workshops this month will offer members of the public another opportunity to help shape the future of the Island's health and social care system.
The sessions build on similar events held in September and October 2018 when the independent review team led by Sir Jonathan Michael, invited input from the community on how best to provide modern, fit-for-purpose health and social care services to meet the Island's needs.
The latest outreach follows the publication of a progress report, which was laid before Tynwald this month setting out where a new approach may be needed to improve the system. Sir Jonathan's final report and recommendations are due to be presented to Tynwald in May 2019.
There will be two themed workshops each held twice, in the afternoon and evening. The team will outline their current thinking and discuss potential recommendations with the audience, to test the level of support within and suitability for, the Island.
The first workshop will look at how the Island can deliver safe, efficient, affordable, high quality services, and where these should be provided. It will ask whether it's time to transform the overall health and care 'offer' by adopting a new delivery model.
This session will also look at the challenges the Island faces to recruit and retain the skilled workforce needed to deliver services, and ask how the vision to offer more joined-up, or integrated, health and social care can be achieved.
Workshop 1: Structure of the Island's Health and Social Care System on Tuesday 29 January:
- Afternoon session: 2pm - 4pm at Braddan New Church hall
- Evening session: 7pm - 9pm at Keyll Darree on the Noble's Hospital site
Discussion at the second workshop will focus on ensuring health and social care services become more user-centred and streamlined, to offer better outcomes.
This session will ask how the extra funds needed to improve health and care services for the population will be raised in the future.
Workshop 2: Improvement, Efficiencies and Funding on Tuesday 5 February:
- Afternoon session, 2pm – 4pm at Isle of Man Ambulance Headquarters, Cronk Coar on the Noble's Hospital site
- Evening session, 7pm – 9pm at the same venue, IOM Ambulance HQ as above
Residents of all ages and backgrounds are invited to attend one of the sessions and offer their views and ideas to help shape the future of health and social care in the Isle of Man.
Sir Jonathan, who is continuing extensive discussions with professionals within the Island's health and social care services, said:
'The level of public engagement throughout the course of the review has been very encouraging and hopefully indicates the Island's appetite for an improved system going forward. We'd like to explain to those who attended our previous sessions how the review team's thinking has developed, based on research and a steady stream of feedback from the public and service providers. We'd also warmly welcome anyone else who'd like to have a say on how things can be improved in future.
'This will be the last time the public are invited to meet the team, although people can still write or phone in with their views. Everyone will use health and social care services during their lifetime, so all have a stake and we are genuinely keen to hear all views.'
For further information, email DHSCReview@gov.im, call +44 7624 650759 or visit Health and Social Care Review. Members of the public can sign-up for one of the workshops online on our eventbrite page or by using the contact details above.
