The recent agreement between Manx Care and the British Medical Association (BMA) to avert a strike by doctors has raised questions about how the pay deal will be funded and its potential impact on healthcare services.
Doctors had been due to walk out for 48 hours this week, but a deal has been agreed by the BMA and Manx Care that will now be put to members.
When asked about the financial implications, Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian said: “The cost of any awards will have to be met by the budget set by the Treasury.”
However, this response was criticised by her predecessor Lawrie Hooper (Lib Vannin, Ramsey), who said: “All budgets are set by the Treasury, so to state the money will be met by a budget approved by the Treasury, is a statement of fact, not a statement of intent.”
Despite Mr Hooper, as well as several other members, asking whether the money would come from service cuts or a higher deficit for Manx Care, Ms Christian said it wouldn’t be either.
She said: “I’ve said, it has to come within the budget. If there are additional costs, that would be go through the normal process for any request with, obviously, Treasury. But as far as I’m aware, that is not the case.”
Over budget
Rob Callister (Onchan) also asked about Manx Care already being up to £16m over budget, but Ms Christian said “it will not be significantly higher, as far as I’m aware currently, right now”.
Mr Callister’s constituency colleague Julie Edge, who asked the original question about the strike, stated that there have already been cuts to services on the island and asked if this deal would result in more.
Ms Christian replied: “At this current time, as I’ve said, I’m aware that there are no further cuts this, obviously is a moving target, this could change in two years and five years.
“But at the moment, currently, I can reassure members that this pay award has been within the financial budget for next year.”
No statement has yet been made by Manx Care or the BMA about this deal and what it will cost.
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