Manx Newscast

Manx Deaf Society puts spotlight on condition that affects 1 in 7 of us

Plans to increase the Island's Minimum Wage in two phases this year have been revised.

The original proposal, announced last month, would have seen the rate increase from £11.45 per hour to £12.25 from 1 April, and then up to £13.05 from 1 October. 

Now, however that second planned uplift is to be put on hold.

It means Tynwald will only be asked to approve the single increase up to £12.25 from April.

The Department for Enterprise and Treasury says the decision to defer the second increase - which would've aligned the Minimum Wage with the Living Wage - follows feedback from industry and a range of representatives.

Instead, the department says it will 'prioritise a review into the current methodology of agreeing proposals in respect of the Minimum Wage and its link with the Living Wage, with the aim to report on findings to Tynwald in July 2025.'

In this edition of Newscast, Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston speaks to Sian Cowper about the new proposals and why aligning the Minimum Wage with the Living Wage is still the direction of government.

The chief minister says there 'clearly' needs to be a rethink on how policies and their impacts are communicated to the public.

Alfred Cannan has been speaking to Manx Radio following this week's revelation of further cuts within Manx Care.

In this Newscast he talks to Siobhán Fletcher about those cuts, government response and whether or not he'll be calling for the health minister to resign.

Manx Care has denied attempting to ‘gag’ its staff from speaking out over cuts being made in the health service.

It says no specific directive has been issued instructing them not to discuss the current reduction in services.

Earlier this week Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher had planned to ask an urgent question in the House of Keys about planned cuts to services. 

However this did not go ahead due to the absence of Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian. 

Ms Faragher told Manx Radio the ‘information vacuum’ about off-Island surgery was ‘unforgivable’:

Manx Care says it's received additional funding from Treasury, allowing it to reinstate many planned procedures on Island over the next two months.

The board says despite previous measures aimed at reducing spending, its costs continue to rise, and it now faces an overspend of £15m for the current financial year.

Siobhán Fletcher sat down with Chief Executive Teresa Cope to find out more about the latest position, and how we got here.

The father of a 12-year-old boy who contacted Manx Radio after his son was refused access to treatment in Alder Hey for his injured leg says they have now been given the go-ahead.

David O'Brien was told by doctors in England that Manx Care had rejected funding for his son Ruben to be enrolled on a research scheme in Liverpool which would determine the best course of treatment and care.

It follows claims that the Island's health body has 'requested that the Liverpool University Hospitals stop treating Isle of Man patients, except in an emergency, until the end of the financial year'.

In this edition of Newscast David says the wheels are now back in motion to get his son back over to the UK for treatment.

As Manx Care faces allegations that it's cancelling or postponing appointments due to undeclared cuts, one parent says their child is being refused treatment at Alder Hey.

It follows claims from one medical professional at Noble’s Hospital, who wants to remain anonymous, who told Manx Radio that the health body has 'requested that the Liverpool University Hospitals stop treating Isle of Man patients, except in an emergency, until the end of the financial year'.

David O'Brien's twelve-year-old son recently injured his leg and had been enrolled on a research scheme to determine the best course of treatment and care.

Now, however, they've been told they can't attend.

In this edition of Newscast, David explains how it felt when they found out the funding had been pulled - and how they've been left with 'no options'.

Manx Care has been contacted for comment.

Uncertainty remains over the future of healthcare on the Island after a former health minister leaked an embargoed media release outlining plans to cut a number of services.

The release was sent to the Island's media on 15 January with an embargo for the following day, but was recalled before the embargo lifted, with Manx Care stating the "implementation of the mitigations is being considered once again".

The following week, Health Minister Claire Christian told Tynwald there were no cuts planned, but patients have since reported having appointments cancelled.

Sian Cowper and Ben Hartley looked into the issue further on this morning's Manx Radio Breakfast.

The former health and social care minister says government has ‘a lot of questions to answer’ after publishing details of apparent cuts being made to healthcare services.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper told Manx Radio the Cannan administration is 'essentially holding a gun to the head of the Manx people' by sanctioning the rumoured health cuts.

Siobhán Fletcher sat down with Mr Hooper to discuss the developing situation.

A Manx calligrapher has had her handiwork highlighted in a high-profile video posted by Manchester City.

The Premier League side recently signed a contract with Norwegian Striker Erling Halaand, keeping him at the club until 2034.

In the video announcement the 24-year-old can be seen writing a letter confirming that, as he says, he's "here to stay".

But the words written on the page, in reality, were penned by the Isle of Man's own Emma Wilson, who now lives in Manchester.

In this edition of Newscast, Emma tells Lewis Foster how she got into calligraphy, how the job came her way ... and how it wasn't entirely smooth sailing!