Manx Care will work to push to reduce the number of patients sent off-island for treatment, as part of its new operating plan for 2026-27.
The organisation says the changes will be driven by a maturing of the off-island referrals process and more robust challenge of NHS Trusts.
A new IT system to track all referrals and manage patient transport was introduced in the past year, alongside an off-island data dashboard that combines transfer data with activity information from NHS providers.
A clinically led panel now reviews all referrals to determine whether appointments can be offered virtually or if care can be repatriated, including diagnostic tests.
Specialists
“We recognise that, for many individuals, having to travel off-island for a hospital appointment is demanding and inconvenient, particularly when feeling ill, and often appointments last just 10-15 minutes with the off-island specialist when the time spent off-island can be 12-13 hours,” the plan says.
Manx Care estimates that a line-by-line review of data from NHS Trusts will realise around £500,000 in avoided costs during the current financial year.
Further developments planned for 2026-27 include an improved case management service to act as a liaison between island patients and NHS Trusts on waiting times and individual Trust dashboards to highlight areas such as high numbers of follow-up appointments.
The organisation also intends to strengthen its relationship with the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board to ensure access and costs are equitable under the Reciprocal Health Agreement.