Two key mental health services, Kooth and Quell, which offer immediate online counseling for adults and young people, are set to resume after being suspended to meet cost-saving goals for Manx Care, the Isle of Man’s health care provider. Initially paused to save approximately £30,000 as part of a larger £5 million savings initiative, the decision was reversed amid concerns over the impact on mental health support, according to Chief Minister Alfred Cannan.
Speaking to the House of Keys, Cannan acknowledged the potential harm of cutting these services outweighed the relatively small savings, prompting the decision to reinstate them. The move comes as Manx Care grapples with a projected £16.8 million overspend for the current financial year, despite an initial budget of £347 million.
Manx Care had announced a series of cost-cutting measures to address its budget shortfall, which included reducing elective surgery days, limiting reliance on bank and agency staff, and suspending Kooth and Quell. These savings measures, although previously approved, were ultimately deemed “inappropriate at this stage” due to the essential nature of the mental health services they impacted.
Other cost-cutting proposals were also under review, including the potential temporary closure of Ramsey Cottage Hospital’s Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) on weekends. While a full closure of the MIU until April was ultimately rejected, weekend closures will remain in effect for now, saving an estimated £15,000 by reducing agency staff requirements.
The Council of Ministers also dismissed additional proposals from Manx Care aimed at further reducing costs, which included scaling back overnight ambulance services, halting the shingles vaccination program, and suspending critically ill patient transfers during night hours. The Council also ruled out changes to the contracts with external health service providers, discontinuing the helicopter emergency medical service, and stopping funded patient escorts.
In his address, Cannan emphasized the need for Manx Care to continue exploring ways to achieve financial balance without sacrificing vital frontline services.
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