It comes after mounting pressure from the public and Tynwald members and the insistence of backbench Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay, who has championed the Island's cause in the House of Commons, that it is not too late to reverse the UK Government's decision.

Now it has been confirmed that Mr Teare has written to the UK Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Burnham MP, asking for an urgent meeting.
This follows an assurance from Mr MacKinlay – who approached Mr Burnham asking for a meeting last week– that the Health Secretary was happy to discuss the issue with the Minister.

However, Mr Teare's letter was sent just days after he issued a statement calling for Islanders to 'face up to reality' that the UK Government's 'door is firmly locked' on the issue.

This week, following Mr Burnham's agreement to a meeting after Mr MacKinlay's intervention, Mr Teare said: 'I have made it clear that I will clear the diaries and would like to meet with him as soon as possible.'

>> Ask friends and family to help health deal cause

Mr Teare insisted: 'It's not a u-turn – it's anything but.'
And he added he was 'no more hopeful' that an agreement could be reached.

'There is no guarantee that we will be able to reach an agreement. Any proposal has to be fair, both to the Isle of Man and the UK,' he said.
He added that he had approached UK officials before but without success.

With the agreement due to end in April Isle of Man Newspapers has been urging readers to take action.

In last week's Manx Independent we published a letter — also available online here — for readers to cut out or download.

They are then encouraged to send it to friends and family in the UK, asking them to fill in their details and post it to their MP.
In addition, an online petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/HealthcareIOMUK/ has more than 4,700 signatures.

The campaign to save the agreement has been consistently backed by Thurrock MP Mr MacKinlay, who said he welcomed Mr Teare's decision.
He is now calling for the Minister to contact all UK MPs to raise awareness of the Island's plight, saying his colleagues had 'a great deal of good will' for the Isle of Man.

He added: 'I regret I didn't know about this a lot earlier – it's now fairly 11th hour.

'There are 600 plus members of the House of Commons but I can count on one hand the number that are aware of this.'

And he confirmed Mr Burnham had been contacted by constituents with Manx connections.

Mr MacKinlay praised Isle of Man Newspapers for its campaign in publications the Manx Independent, Isle of Man Examiner and Isle of Man Courier.

'I congratulate Isle of Man Newspapers because it's extremely important we encourage representations from those who are sympathetic to the Isle of Man,' he said.

'We can have an enormous impact if people write.'

Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan, who has always advocated the need for action, said: 'I applaud this move which has, at long last, been taken.

'This will be welcome to the public who have long been expecting political intervention at the highest level by the Isle of Man Government, and not a simple acceptance that the ending of the agreement is a fait accompli.

'I trust a robust case will now be made on behalf of the Manx people, UK visitors who claim equally close kinship, and Manx service personnel currently fighting for the UK.'

From April, Islanders visiting the UK, and UK visitors to the Island, could face hefty hospital bills if they fall ill or have an accident as only initial emergency treatment will remain free.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

About time too, who does this man think he is???? Maybe he'll really discover how the Manx public think when he's up for re-election!!!!
N

It is about time Eddie Teare has got off his backside and championed the cause of IOM residents who, after all, he is supposed to represent in his capacity as an MHK. It's probably too little, too late at this late stage so the question has to be asked, "Why has he not acted before?".
MANXMAN

Just another case of our so-called politicians not using their brains on national matters. You have to ask why they did not foresee such a public outcry against the ending of the reciprocal health agreement with the UK, as anyone with any sense of intelligence would of seen. If Mr Teare holds onto his seat at the next election I'd be both surprised and disappointed, especially considering his track record as Health Minister during 2009. The same can be said for the majority of MHK's – who haven't done anything (in the public eye) to defend the Island during the recent economic crisis or the slandering we've received from the G20 and other so-called well regulated first rate developed nations- namely, the US, UK, France. Germany and the rest of the EU.
TIM K

I've just send a message to my local MP using the service provided by this link:
http://www.writetothem.com/?keyword=mp&creativeid=519342579&gclid=CLWnuqH17p4CFR9M5Qodkxbh9g
It allows you to write to your MP and you don't even need a stamp. You just put in your UK postcode and then click on your MP's name. You then add your details, paste the letter already provided and then send it. You will get an email that you need to confirm in order to send the letter.
NICK

I do not hold out much hope with Mr. Teare, his language is already defeatist, I'm afraid he may be simply succumbing to mounted pressure from the public without any intention of challenging the decision. This issue was very quiet in when the "negotiations" took place, the man rolls over and agrees with whoever makes the most noise. He will accept whatever he is told to accept when he meets the UK Health Minister because he is not a fighter and should not be in the position that he is. I should not be surprised if he returns from this meeting no better off than we already were, but he will claim that he "tried". Just another man in it for a big pension!
PH

I have sent an email to the Conservative Party Leader David Cameron, the incoming UK PM, to help us here in the Isle of Man about the non renegotiation of the reciprocal health agreement when other countries are still to be covered by this. He has requested his Shadow Health Secretary to look into this and how can they best help the Isle of Man residents. Hope other readers will continue to ask MPs (Labour or Con) across to intervene and help our cause.
RT

From what I understand, `MY' minister for health couldnt really be bothered to try to resolve this? Was `MY' Chief Minister telling the truth when he mentioned that the IOM Govt have tried to arrange meetings but were constantly put down/denied? Mr Teare and Chief Minister Tony Brown ... you represent the people of the Island. The MP (more of a friend at this time) is making a show of your apparent incompetence. Im curious if our non-appointed King David would have more balls to confront the UK regarding the ill-manner his subjects have been put through...Im sure he would.
KRIS, Douglas

Wow, Eddie Teare has finally decided to do his job. Well done. It's a shame it took public outrage to get him off his backside.
IT GUY

This is really pathetic at this late stage. Mr Teare has been trying to talk tough to the Manx public on this issue, implying that we should get real about it. Unfortunately, he has not been prepared to talk tough to the UK on the same matter. He is in Government to represent the interests of the Manx public; something he appears to have forgotten. Typical of Ministers in this Government; too busy thinking about their own positions than thinking about the people they are supposed to be representing. Mr Teare got an easy walk back into Keys last time round. Hopefully someone will stand to give the voters in Ayre the chance to vote for an alternative representative in 2011.
JB

It will put UK visitors coming over to the Isle of Man for their holidays. Manx people fought in wars for England so we need to be looked after!
KIBBY RADA

There is not one person on this page for Mr Teare,if this was the UK the newspapers would be howling for his and the rest of this gang's resignations,sorry its the Isle of Man,nobody resigns from government here,they have to be forced out screaming from office after a general election. Why dosn't the newspaper with all that has happened since October print a survey to ask people if they are satified with this present government or not,then if the majority want them out,we could have an election 2010,if they are in favour of them staying,then there would be a mandate for them to carry on right up to 2011 and onwards.
I don't think that this will happen,because there is a fear of what the result would be.
EORH

I have retained my Manx National Insurance Number since leaving the RAF in 2000, and it would now seem logical to assume that I will no longer be entitled to treatment by the UK NHS come April 2010. As you can see from my address, I presently live and work on the mainland (but will hopefully retire back to the Island in the future). It was quite a fight to retain my Manx NI number, although all through my 26
year career in the UK Forces, I had the Manx 'MA' National Insurance prefix without any difficulties (I am lead to believe that funds were transferred to the UK Inland Revenue by the Manx Treasury as part of a reciprocal arrangement). For the life of me I cannot understand what is going on here, but hopefully, my local MP, Robert Goodwill, will shed some light on it. Keep up the fight against this ridiculous unilateral decision by the UK Government! Kindest Regards
DICK BREW, Whitby, North Yorkshire

Your "Our View" editorial in last week's Independent hits the nail on the head. Having apparently waited for someone else to arrange an appointment for him to meet Andy Burnham, there is little point in Minister Eddie Teare actually keeping that appointment. If, as it would appear, he would be going with the attitude that the trip is a waste of time then that is exactly what it will be. He has got himself into a position whereby, if he were to be successful then he would be pilloried even more that he already has been for his defeatist attitude. Much more likely that he would fail and thus be able
to say "I told you so". Eddie Teare is a decent, honourable man but he is not the man for this job. If the Chief Minister cannot go himself, and he is unlikely to fare any better, then he must carefully select the right representative for this crucial meeting. Speaker Steve Rodan would seem to be our best candidate, or Claire Christian, or both. With the support of Andrew MacKinlay, who seems to be the only polititian on either Island who actually cares, either or both of these experienced campaigners might just have a chance of saving the day, even at this late hour. We then need a new Health Minister.
KEITH

I have to ask if we have any data to confirm or dispute the grounds on which the reciprocal agreement is being canceled. Is it true that it is not worth the UK maintaining it because so few UK residents are visiting the Isle of Man, or requiring anything other than A&E care on the Isle of Man? Similarly, how many IOM residents are REALLY affected by the cessation? If A&E is still covered, then would not an ambulance service to retrieve our poorly residents be of use, or a health screen before residents left the island to ascertain if there was a significant probability that they would require more than A&E cover and assistance to return to the Isle of Man? If the screening suggested the risk was significant, then quite frankly, sensible advice would be to NOT travel, or to buy a medical repatriation policy. The Isle of Man is chocka with Insurance companies, has no one approached the DHSS to offer a quote for a block policy? The other alternative I can think of is the Isle of Man paying more of its millions away to the UK, something which I object to. Why should I pay to enable or subsidise someone else's choice to visit the UK to do some shopping? Why should the money in the tax kitty be spent to allow that luxury when there are essential services which may be curtailed. Remember, many people are here for low taxes and would take great umbrage at being asked to pay more when they can see money spent unwisely.
PM