Manx Newscast

This week marks five years since the start of the coronavirus pandemic on the Isle of Man. 

Five years ago today, anyone arriving on the Island was forced to self-isolate for at least 14 days. 

One of the first cancellations to be announced was the TT, followed by Local Government elections and sporting fixtures. 

Chanelle Sukhoo spoke to former Chief Minister Howard Quayle, former Treasury Minister now Chief Minister Alfred Cannan and former Health Minister now Cabinet Office Minister David Ashford

Breast cancer charities on the Island are working to highlight the importance of early detection, as the frequency of screenings comes under review.

The Mandate to Manx Care includes proposals to follow any changes by the UK National Screening Committee.

That could see screenings moved from every two years to every three years, however Public Health Isle of Man says it hasn't 'recommended' that, yet.

Angie Aire from Breast Cancer Now explains what another year could mean in terms of a diagnosis:

It's been the topic of conversation all week here on Manx Radio Breakfast, but we are again turning to some information in Manx Care's Operating Plan for 2025/26.

A paragraph within the section on 'patient logistics' reveals that the healthcare body is in talks over the future of its links with the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

It admits in the document that £250k is required per annum to cover the service visiting the Island - but says it's 'unlikely that the charity will be able to fundraise to this level each year' - casting doubt on the future of the service for Manx residents if Manx Care doesn't foot the bill.

Siobhán Fletcher caught up with the charity's Chief Executive Joe Garcia to find out more:

Police say they want to reassure people that the Isle of Man is a safe place to live and attacks by strangers are ‘extremely rare’.

It follows the sentencing of a 43-year-old man who sexually assaulted a vulnerable teenage girl in Douglas in July last year.

Detective Inspector Nick Haxby, from the Protecting Vulnerable People Investigation Team, speaks to Tessa Hawley:

This year's Manx Care Mandate is all about 'modernising' and making health services 'more efficient' - 'by moving them to the right place, at the right time with the right person'.

At least that's the message from the health minister, who's been hitting back at accusations that it evidences 'the largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen'.

The health body says it wants to develop out-of-hospital provision – in dental, GP and pharmacy services – and accelerate a ‘home first approach’ to move more services into the community.

Siobhán Fletcher has been speaking to Chair of Manx Care, Wendy Reid, and Health Minister Claire Christian to find out more.

Charities on the Isle of Man are calling on the Department of Health and Social Care to rethink some of the proposals in the Mandate for Manx Care. 

Some of the proposals being made are: 

• Reduction in acute hospital (mental/physical) bed capacity to support out of hospital care models
• Changes to prescription eligibility criteria
• More cost-effective delivery of care in hospital and community

Another proposal is to follow the UK's National Screening Committee and decreasing the frequency of breast and cervical cancer screening from two years to three. 

It's something that's not welcome by these charities:

A Onchan MHK is calling on the Department of Health and Social Care to put a proposal from its Manx Care Mandate to Tynwald for a decision. 

The DHSC has suggested following the UK's screening time which would see screening take place every three years as opposed to two. 

Julie Edge says while it's a service that will save money, it won't save lives.

Pregnant women on the Isle of Man still aren’t being offered any Parentcraft sessions in person or virtually from the Island's health service.

That’s despite an assurance from the health and social care minister that new online resources would be available by early February.

Tessa Hawley has this report:

The former health minister says Manx Care's mandate for the upcoming year amounts to the 'largest assault on NHS care the Island has ever seen'.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper argues the health body's operating plan evidences a concerted effort from government to 'push people towards private options'.

The documents are set to be laid before Tynwald later this month; and will be subject to a general debate.

Listen to the full interview here:

The chief minister has described failed plans to extract natural gas from the Island’s seabed as ‘six-years of wasted energy’.

Alfred Cannan says he’s disappointed that Crogga didn’t get to the stage of carrying out a 3D seismic survey and drilling an appraisal well.

Mr Cannan told Manx Radio it must be accepted that the Crogga application is finished and Tynwald has voted not to approve any new licence operations: