Medical director steps up as interim Manx Care boss

Manx Care's executive medical director will take over as head of the healthcare provider for six months from 1 July.

Chris Stockport's appointment comes after the resignation of CEO Teresa Cope, who has been at the helm of the Isle of Man's health services since the arm's length organisation was set up in 2021.

Her departure is set to be followed by chair of the Manx Care board Wendy Reid and comes amid a governance review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Manx Care said the focus during the interim period would be on that review.

Manx Care was created in 2021 to operate at arm's length from the government, with oversight by the DHSC, on the recommendation of former NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael.

He had been appointed by the Treasury following a series of overspends on healthcare.

However, since the creation of the organisation, costs have continued to rise, with Tynwald this week due to be asked to approve an additional £19m in revenue and £1.8m in capital spending for the last financial year.

Pressure in early May saw the island's main hospital trigger the highest alert when bed occupancy was stretched to 98.9%, leading to the cancellation of some non-urgent surgeries and limits on new hospital admissions.

The Medical Staff Committee (MSC), which is made up of 75 senior doctors and consultants, previously called for an increase in bed spaces at Noble's Hospital.

That triggered the commissioning of a rapid review of capacity at the facility.

The committee, which has also previously called for more clinical representation on the Manx Care board, has welcomed the appointment of Stockport as interim CEO.

However, it warned that structural change could not be "achieved by a single personnel change".

A previous vote of medical staff had shown 88% had no confidence in the the Manx Care board, it added.

DHSC Minister Claire Christian said: "Strong professional clinical leadership is essential to effective decision-making, and Chris has demonstrated his understanding of quality and safe service delivery."

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