Manx Care’s latest annual report shows the healthcare provider has missed several critical performance targets while waiting lists grew in the last year.
The number of patients waiting for a first consultant outpatient appointment rose to 17,829 and the waiting list for a day case procedure increased by 23%.
The 2024/25 report shows that performance against the cancer diagnosis target fell significantly short with only 63% of patients received a diagnosis or the all-clear within 28 days of an urgent referral, against a target of 75%.
The report stated: “Challenges with our clinical staffing levels have been a contributing factor to achieving the target.”
Emergency Care
Access to emergency care also struggled as just 67% of patients at Noble’s Hospital and Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours, against a target of 76%.
The report says: “Rising demand and a lack of ED observational space remained key factors.”
Manx Care also confirmed that “58% of patients” were waiting six weeks or more for a diagnostic test against a standard of 1%.
These service challenges come as Manx Care reported a £15.6 million overspend for the financial year.
The deficit, representing 4.5% of its operational budget, was described in the annual report as “disappointing.”
The overspend was attributed to “significant increases in the costs of healthcare drugs, consumables and contracts, and increased tariff prices for essential care for our population that is delivered off-island”.
Successes
Despite the pressures, the report highlighted areas of progress, including a 25% reduction in the CAMHS waiting list.
Many Care also launched new facilities and services including the Bluebell Suite for pregnancy loss, the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU), the Summerhill View care home and the fully integrated Manx Integrated Sexual Health Centre.
It also celebrated the first Manx-trained midwife and established local training pathways for paramedics and occupational therapists, as well as meeting all regulatory standards for complaint handling.
Chair Dr Wendy Reid said the organisation would continue “building a health and care system that is resilient, person-centred, and designed around the needs of the people it serves”.
View From The Top
CEO Teresa Cope said: “This year we have continued to update and streamline our pathways and processes to comply with the Department of Health and Social Care’s Mandate to Manx Care.
“We’re acutely aware of the pressures on our colleagues, and are working with this awareness, and our patients and service users, at the heart of all we do.”
Minister Claire Christian added: “Teams across Manx Care work incredibly hard every day to deliver improved patient and service user outcomes, and that is evident in a lot of the data in this report.
“The strategic priority of a home-first approach is at the forefront of their decision-making, ensuring the right care is delivered in the right place, at the right time.”