ARE there plans to privatise parts of the island’s health service?
That’s the question that will be posed to Health Minister David Anderson in Tynwald this week by backbench MHK Bill Henderson (Douglas North) who will ask him to make a statement on a letter apparently sent to all staff at Noble’s Hospital ‘regarding the possible privatisation of services – and what services are likely to be affected’.
In a second question, Mr Henderson will ask the Health Minister whether his department is planning to contract out services and what they may be. He will also ask to what extent the department has consulted with relevant unions before sending letters out to staff – and how he will to keep unions informed.
Liberal Vannin leader Peter Karran (Onchan) has tabled a question on the same issue. He will ask Mr Anderson: ‘In view of the proposals to privatise the cleaners and other manual workers, whether he will review management and the whole structure of the Health Service to get value for money?’
As part of the Scope of Government exercise, all departments have been given until the end of the year to review how services are delivered.