The leader of the Manx Labour Part has issued a stark warning about the Mandate for Manx Care, saying it causes “serious concerns about patient care, access to services, and the long-term consequences of today’s decisions”.
Joney Faragher criticised the reduction in acute hospital beds and shift to virtual wards.
She said:: “By reducing inpatient beds, we risk overwhelming community services that are already under strain.S
And added: “There is no corresponding investment in community services to offset this,” calling the reliance on volunteers and third-sector organisations “unacceptable.”
Preventative Care
The Douglas East MHK said she also had major concerns about preventative care.
She said: “Autism and suicide prevention aren’t mentioned at all.”
While also condemning delays in diabetic retinopathy screening saying “we will incur far greater costs in the future as untreated conditions lead to more advanced and expensive interventions”.
The mandate’s restrictions on off-island referrals also drew fire. “For some patients, off-island treatment is a necessity, not a luxury,” Ms Faragher argued, warning it could lead to “worse health outcomes and higher long-term costs.”
Privatisation risks were highlighted, with Ms Faragher quoting the mandate’s call to “explore where private services could be beneficial,” countering: “If public services are reduced, will patients be left with no option but to pay for private care?”
Recent controversies, including nursing strikes and a dispute with UK hospitals over unpaid treatments, were cited as evidence of systemic issues while Ms Faragher referenced an email from Alder Hey Children’s Hospital that questions the decision to cancel appointments for Manx children.
She added: “If some believe individuals should contribute financially towards healthcare, they should say so openly.”
The debate is continuing.
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