Hospice core services 'will be protected' in cuts

Essential services within Hospice Isle of Man will be protected but it is too early to know how cuts will impact care, the island's Health and Social Care Minister has said.

Last week, the palliative and end-of-life care provider announced cutbacks, with about 150 staff offered voluntary redundancy after sustained financial struggles.

Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian told the House of Keys that "no patient will be left without palliative or end-of-life care that they need."

But, she said she was "not in a position to provide further specifics regarding changes to services" until the three-week voluntary redundancy period had concluded.

"Once the process has concluded, Manxcare and Hospice will look to develop firmer and more detailed plans," Christian continued.

She said government funding for Hospice Isle of Man will increase from £1.75m in the 2025/26 financial year to £1.8m in 2026/27.

She said the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), Manx Care and Hospice Isle of Man were "committed to protecting and preserving core services" such as adult and children inpatient services, hospice at home and specialist nursing.

She added that work was being accelerated to develop a "more progressive third sector funding model" over the next six months, but in the meantime, the Department would ensure Hospice Isle of Man had access to mechanisms that can strengthen financial sustainability like business improvement.

But MHK Rob Callister said while he accepted there was a slight uplift in government funding this year to £1.8m, it "fell far short of the £2.4m that Hospice requested."

And Michelle Haywood questioned how services and care would be safeguarded while funding options were being considered.

Christian said: "Let me reassure members and members of the public that essential core services will be protected.

"Manx Care and DHSC will only intervene operationally when it is necessary to do so and will respect the process hospice is working through."

The island's health provider would "actively support hospice to ensure that any potential changes are introduced safely and with no adverse impacts on patients," she continued.

Government funding, which made up about 24% of Hospice Isle of Man's operating costs, had increased year-on-year since 2021, she added.

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