DHSC asks for £18.3m to reduce waiting lists

It's estimated 3,800 patients would get treatment sooner if approved

The Department of Health and Social Care is going to ask Tynwald for an extra £18.3 million to reduce waiting lists within the health service.

The health minister will ask the court to support the spending in next month's sitting.

It's thought the money, if approved, would mean nearly 3,800 patients waiting for operations could have their treatment sooner.

Reducing wait times is listed as one of the priorities for government in its Island Plan which was published earlier this year.

The money would be ring-fenced, so it will only be allowed to be used for this specific purpose, and will be separate from Manx Care's annual budget.

It would also enable it to continue its partnership with Synaptik which was brought in earlier this year to help manage the backlog of patients.

The Scottish healthcare provider supplies specialist clinicians to work alongside existing teams at Noble's Hospital so that more patients can receive treatment in a shorter space of time.

The three departments with the largest waiting lists are orthopaedics, general surgery and ophthalmology, and will cover procedures like hip replacements and cataract removal.

The increase in wait times has been blamed on the Covid-19 pandemic, when elective surgery and a number of clinics had to be suspended.

Health and Social Care Minister Lawrie Hooper said: "I understand how frustrating and difficult long waiting times can be for both patients and their loved ones and the impact it has on people’s quality of life. That is why the government is determined to reduce healthcare waiting times.  

"Manx Care has made a solid start in its efforts to reduce hospital waits, but it is clear that more support is needed to help achieve this.  This funding will clear significant backlogs – made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic – and make future waiting times much more reasonable."

Teresa Cope, chief executive of Manx Care, added: "Reducing waiting lists continues to be a key focus for Manx Care.  This significant investment – if approved – would allow us to continue our work to address the backlog of elective surgery at pace.  

"This means we could prevent patients from having to wait any longer than they have already for surgeries that are needed to improve their quality of life.  It would also bring the inpatient and day case waiting lists down to acceptable levels for Manx Care to manage sustainably moving forward."

The health minister will ask members for their support during the first full sitting of Tynwald after the summer recess which begins on the 18 October.