Manx Care exceeded its savings targets in three of the last four years, achieving £11.8m in 2024/25 against a £6.3m goal.
The Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), introduced in April 2021, has focused on efficiency measures to address rising healthcare costs.
Minister for Health and Social Care Ms Christian said: “Most schemes have focussed on more efficient utilisation of funding,” including reduced supply costs, permanent staff recruitment, and reviews of high-cost UK placements.
She stressed that “reductions in service delivery are always seen as a last resort”.
Key service adjustments included the 2023/24 overnight closure of the Manx Emergency Doctors Service (MEDS) on weekdays, which Ms Christian said was backed by low-usage data.
In 2024/25, theatre sessions were cut by 5.5 weekly lists, though increased utilisation maintained activity levels.
Non-urgent tertiary care and online counselling services (Kooth and Kwell) were temporarily paused, with counselling resuming in April 2025.
The Mental Health Recovery College was also suspended for a quarter, but a Quality Impact Assessment confirmed no risk to patient safety.
Since 2022, all CIP proposals undergo a Quality Impact Assessment to evaluate effects on safety, access, and staff wellbeing.
7 Comments