Members of the public are invited to give their views on a new organisation which is set to transform the way health and care services are delivered in the future.
The creation of a body to provide health and care services to the population was one of the key recommendations of Sir Jonathan Michael’s final report, following his extensive review of the current system. If the public are in favour, it will be named Manx Care.
New legislation is required to create the body, which will operate at arms-length from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). A new Bill sets out the design of Manx Care as a statutory board, similar to the Isle of Man Post Office and Manx Utilities, adjusted to meet Sir Jonathan’s recommendation. A consultation on wide-ranging proposals to establish Manx Care is now open.
The consultation outlines proposed areas of responsibility for DHSC and Manx Care, with the DHSC setting policy and strategy and remaining ultimately responsible for the provision of services. Manx Care would hold an agreement with the DHSC known as the mandate, in effect being its prime contractor to deliver a set of services to a required standard, either directly itself or by commissioning them from external providers.
This arrangement, which will include the funding provided for health and care services, will be agreed annually between DHSC and Manx Care. The Bill includes a list of what should be contained in the mandate, which in accordance with Sir Jonathan’s report, will span all services currently provided in the Island’s hospitals and the community, by the Children and Families Directorate and off-Island. The design of the mandate means that it can be adapted to meet changing needs each year and Manx Care’s performance in delivering its mandate will be kept under continual review by the DHSC.
The consultation gives members of the public an opportunity to comment on proposals in any way they wish, rather than give a view on specific options or choices. It is divided into 15 parts, guiding readers through the Bill in a logical way, highlighting the intention behind each key measure and linking them to recommendations in Sir Jonathan’s final report.
The DHSC’s duties and responsibilities under the new system and the way services will be mandated from Manx Care figure prominently in the consultation. If the proposals are agreed, Manx Care will have new statutory duties to meet, including a duty to promote the involvement of patients and service users.
The transfer of staff from DHSC to their new employer, once the design of Manx Care is agreed, will see them retain their current terms and conditions, as outlined in the Bill, and engagement with trade unions and staff representatives is ongoing.
DHSC Minister David Ashford said:
‘This is a landmark consultation for the Island. Everyone has an interest in health and care services, both in terms of what is provided and the way they receive them. I would urge the public to take part in this process, as the views fed back will shape our thinking – after all, Manx Care is a new concept for the Island, so the input of the public is essential.’
He added:
‘Sir Jonathan Michael made clear that service users and patients must be included in decisions that affect them, so in offering people a say, we are doing exactly that. Even if you don’t have strong views on every aspect of Manx Care’s design, the document is well worth reading, to discover more about what is planned for this and future generations.’
