Islanders have called for the government to step in and provide more funding to Hospice Isle of Man after it announced service cuts and redundancies.
Hospice announced the cuts yesterday citing an “increasingly unsustainable” financial position.
Part of the issue it raised is the percentage of its funding (24%) it receives from government compared to charities in Jersey (44%) and the UK average (36%).
Irreplaceable
Reacting to the news on Facebook one user said the government’s contribution is “disgraceful”, with another adding “what the hospice do for the island is irreplaceable”.
In amongst the calls for government to step in, one member of Isle of Man News and Politics said: The hospice is the most wonderful provision for people and their families when they are at their most vulnerable.
“There must be a funding model to support them.”
There was also the call for cuts at Manx Care, as well as at Hospice, of middle management jobs to sure up front line services.
However, there was also some who said the charity’s own finances needed examining, including the salaries of top earners.
Others also encouraged members to contact their MHKs to call for quicker action on ensuring Hospice receives more support.
Govt
In response to the news, Manx Care and the DHSC issued a joint statement saying the government is “working closely with Hospice Isle of Man and across government to ensure that care continues with the compassion and dignity people deserve”.
They added: “The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Manx Care recognise the financial pressures facing Hospice and support its focus on core palliative and end-of-life care.
“As part of this, some services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychological therapies and lymphoedema services will transition into Manx Care and planning is already underway to make that transition safe and smooth for patients.
To support Hospice during this period, Manx Care is working with Hospice to protect and maintain core services, including Hospice at Home and specialist nursing care.”
Also announced was a full review of commissioning arrangements for palliative and end-of-life care in line with the Mandate to Manx Care 2026-27, which will be delivered by September 2026.
There is also a Keys sitting on Tuesday, we can probably expect an urgent question.