The DHSC has never issued a statutory direction to Manx Care, even when elective surgery was deprioritised in January 2025, a Tynwald committee has heard.
The admission came as the Public Accounts Committee scrutinised how the department oversees service cuts when budgets fall short.
Rob Mercer MLC asked whether core services described in the mandate could be switched off, referencing the controversial decision to slow elective surgery earlier this year.
Minister Claire Christian said: “I think you’re absolutely right, and that’s absolutely something that we all want to avoid, making sure that core services aren’t in the instance of this year.”
Budget
She described arriving in office during “a very difficult scenario whereby these different solutions were being proposed, otherwise we were going to be or Manx care were going to be more over budget”.
The minister said the department has never used its legal powers under the Manx Care Act to direct the organisation and when asked how the department and Manx Care resolve tensions when services must be cut, Ms Christian pointed to political motions rather than formal processes.
She cited an ADHD pathway debate as an example where public pressure may lead to new services.