DHSC publishes 2026/27 Mandate to Manx Care

Minister says 'fiscal discipline underpins every commitment'

Manx Care is to be asked to meet a number of 'realistic yet challenging targets for the upcoming year' by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The DHSC has published its sixth Mandate to Manx Care, this time for 2026/27.

It will be laid before Tynwald later this month and, if approved, will become effective from 1 April.

Targets within the document include: a 20-minute or less average wait-time between arrival and triage at Noble's Hospital Emergency Department, an average ambulance response time (for Category One calls) of seven minutes or less, and a minimum of 80 percent of patients receiving a diagnosis or ruling out of cancer within 28 days of referral.

Manx Care’s budget for the next financial year is as yet unclear - but will be revealed in the Budget later this month.

In addition, the Manx Care Operating Plan 2026-27, which forms a detailed response to the requirements of the Mandate, has not yet been published, but will be laid before the March sitting of Tynwald.

MANDATE

The Mandate document acts as the contract the DHSC holds with Manx Care and sets out the services the public should expect to access as well as highlighting Manx Care’s responsibilities around financial control and governance.

This year, the DHSC says it is centred around five key priorities:

1. Safe, timely and effective care
2. Governance, compliance and financial accountability
3. ‘One System’ – Fully integrated health and social care services
4. Early intervention, prevention and childhood experience
5. Older adults and community-based care

It says: "The agreement places a firm emphasis on financial sustainability, strengthening community-based services, reducing waiting times, integrating health and social care services, embedding early intervention initiatives and improving care for older adults.

"Close collaboration between the DHSC and Treasury means that the Mandate has been developed to ensure that priorities and expectations are aligned with the amount of money available for the coming year."

In her foreword to the document, Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian says: "This Mandate sets the direction for how we will achieve our ambition, ensuring care is delivered responsibly, sustainably and within the resources entrusted to us, while always placing people at the heart of every decision we make.

"This is the most significant Mandate since the creation of Manx Care in 2021. The recent governance review has allowed us to take stock, strengthen accountability and clarify the relationship between the Department and Manx Care.  

"But we are under no illusion that performance is under great scrutiny, which is why this Mandate combines realistic delivery with financial discipline, with the Manx voice at its heart."

Manx Care Chief Executive Teresa Cope said: "Manx Care welcomes this Mandate and is finalising the Operating Plan for 2026/27 in response to the Mandate. 

"We value the continued focus on the 'Home First' approach, early intervention and prevention, and safe, appropriate and effective care. 

"This aligns with our commitment to delivering compassionate, efficient and integrated care that supports people to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives within their communities."

You can find the Mandate document in full here and via the Tynwald Register of Business.