Sponsored by
Questions in Commons on scrapping health agreement
QUESTIONS have been raised in the House of the Commons over the UK's scrapping of the reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man.
In a series of questions Thurrock Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay asked the Secretary of State for Health how much the Manx Government had paid the UK NHS for elective health treatment in the last 20 years and with what other countries the UK NHS had reciprocal agreements.
And he asked what discussions the UK Department of Health had with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly on the ending of reciprocal health arrangements between the NHS and the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.
He also questioned the Secretary of State for Justice over what discussions he had with the Secretary of State for Health on the implications of the ending of the deal with the Island and the other Crown Dependencies.
In his reply, Minister for Justice Michael Wills confirmed there had been no discussions at political level between the Ministry of Justice — responsible for the UK's relationship with the Isle of Man — and Department of Health.
'The decision to cancel the agreement was a matter for Department of Health ministers alone, but prior to the decision being taken discussions took place between officials of both departments,' he said.
Health Minister Gillian Merron said the allocation to the Isle of Man under reciprocal healthcare agreement had risen from 2.21 million in 2004/05 to 2.8 million in 2008/09.
She said that in addition to the Isle of Man, the UK Government currently had reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, New Zealand, Russia, St Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Macedonia.
All of these agreements were similar in that they provide healthcare cover for tourists from non European Union member states, she said.
In addition, the Overseas Territories of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, St Helena and Turks and Caicos can each refer, to the NHS, four patients per year, specifically for elective treatment.
In the case of the Isle of Man and Gibraltar, a financial allocation was set aside each year and is made available for elective treatment following clinical referral, she said.
She added: 'The agreement with the Isle of Man contained a six-month notice period. The UK Government exercised that right and a termination date of 31 March 2010 was agreed with the Isle of Man.
'The department gave notice on the agreements with both the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man on behalf of the UK. Prior to this, departmental officials consulted with the Ministry of Justice and with officials from the devolved administrations.'
Mr Mackinlay had previously questioned Ms Merron in November about the end of the reciprocal deal. She replied there was 'little robust data' to justify the business case and value for money for the NHS for retaining the agreement with the Isle of Man.
Speaker of the House of Keys Steve Rodan said he had briefed Mr Mackinlay at some length about the situation.
'He has for a long time been a good friend of the Isle of Man and he is horrified at what is being done by the Uk Government.'
Mr Rodan has tabled a question to Health Minister Eddie Teare MHK for next week's Tynwald sitting over whether the Island had received clarification from the UK Department of Health on the legal position of signing separate reciprocal health agreements with the devolved legislatures of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
The speaker has criticised Mr Teare for his department's apparent lack of urgency in dealing with the reciprocal health agreement.
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she is prepared to enter into a new health agreement with the Isle of Man if no exchange of public funds was required.
Eddie Power, of the Ballasalla and District Residents' Association, has sent letters to the UK national newspapers, urging readers to write to their MP if they feel disgusted at the UK government's actions in ending the health agreement with the Island.
His correspondence follows a conversation with the Thurrock MP.
Mr Power said: 'He has taken up the fight over the cancellation of the reciprocal health agreement on our behalf. He is fuming that this has been done, firstly for the effect it has on us, and also because it was done without informing the Westminster parliament, nor the parliament in Scotland or the assemblies in Northern Ireland and Wales.
'He feels that at this 11th hour it is time that everyone contacts an MP in Westminster, many of whom do not know this has happened. He includes the Manx Government in that call and feels our government should be writing to every MP and telling them what is happening.
'I feel and I think he would agree, that, the time for departments talking to departments has gone, it should no longer be the responsibility of civil servants it should be the people of the Isle of Man through family friends etc or through our MHKs telling all MPs that we don't accept this. We will earn more respect by standing up to the Westminster government.'
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im
YOUR COMMENTS
Ok,its good that someone is raising the profile of this, even if it is a bit late. However, this is just one symtom of a fundamental problem we have. Until the relationship with London is sorted out and we get some democracy introduced in Britain, these symptoms will keep appearing. Today it's the reciprocal health agreement and the "VAT sharing" issue? What's next? The fundamental problem must be sorted out. Either we are part of Britain or we are not. If it's "not", then we certainly don't want London making our decisions. If it's "part", then we definitely want some say in matters.
RON, Douglas
How embarrassing that we as a self governing country, are relying on a political member from the British Parliament to stand up and question the legitimacy or logic behind this decision. Too often we hear from the islands "politicians" (a loose definition) that they have done all they can and they have to look at a bigger picture – an argument which is as thin as the one put forward on commercial confidentiality. Our "politicians" need to have a bit more spine in them and be willing to stand up and fight for the rights of the population who they are elected to serve. No doubt with a general election coming up on the island, there will be a lot of hand wringing and hot air coming from people saying they will do this and that and no doubt the majority will accept the lies and untruths and we'll end up with the same. We the people get the government we deserve because we elect them, so in some ways we should not be that surprised at the mess we are in, because we are the ones responsible!!!
DISILLUSIONED, Douglas
My daughter, who now lives in the South of England, has already written to the Leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Lib-Dem parties and her local MP and has received no satisfactory answers. I wrote to the UK DHSS asking how many Manx residents have been treated in UK hospitals over the last 5 years and they replied, "It is not possible to provide any figures on the number of people who have received free hospital treatment in the UK, having come here from any country in the world. This information is not collected centrally." In their next paragraph they stated that, . . . "On this basis the agreement did not offer value for money for the UK taxpayer." What more can we do? The UK does not care a jot for the Isle of Man and its about time we realised we are on our own over this. We can lobby our MHK's to sort things out this end for the Manx people. We, the Manx people must not let this just happen - everyone must get off their backside and write to their MHKs about how angry and let-down they feel about the situation. If we, the Manx people, as individuals, don't do something no one else will and certainly not any MP's in the UK. And don't think this situation does not affect you. It may not now but there might come a time when you can't travel to the UK because the insurance companies have refused you cover and it will be too late to moan about it then.
We have been let down badly, initially by the UK Government and then by our own elected Government. There is still time to do something - according to 22 October 2009 letter from the UK DHSS "An end date for the agreement has yet to be formally set". Tynwald has waved the white flag over this issue - they can still be persuaded to change their minds. The ballot box is too far away for that threat to make any difference. We need action now. People who have paid 10 years NI in the UK will still receive reciprocal health care in the UK so this is definitely discrimination against the rest of the Manx residents. And our Government thinks it right and proper not to lift a finger to help those who can't afford health insurance, those who are too old or who have certain medical conditions who will not find anyone to insure them. Worst still, is the waiver for travel health insurance that the DHSS has agreed with CAMRA for their Members' Weekend and AGM on 16-18 April 2010 - the Manx taxpayer is going to foot the bill for any possible hospitalisation of CAMRA members and their friends! It's all there to see on the CAMRA website - www.camra.org.uk/agm . Which MHK or Civil Servant sanctioned that? They should be shown the door. Our MHK's seem to be putting their heads in the sand over this and are more capable of dealing with trivial, parochial matters than dealing with matters of national importance.
EDITH QUAGGIN
Well it looks as if some of the Manx Nation is finally waking up to what use our fine politicians are in this great big world,what Disillusioned Douglas has said is a sad indication that we are paying people to represent us,and it ends up with a UK MP to stand up do their job for them,how can they now hold their heads up in public and say we are the oldest parliament in the world,and self governing,when this has happened,they are just historical words for the visitors. Just on this they should all resign and have an election next March 2010,with what has happened,it shows they have no control of this Island,most of the legislation comes from the UK anyway,they just endorse it,some local stuff is just parish pump,we don't need 34 yes men/women who need OBEs,Knighthoods,etc from another government. It has been said before,what is their use,one MP at Westminister is enough expense for this Island to have. The people have been kidded for too long,because nothing has come along where they have had to make a serious national decision before,except for Radio Caroline,they cocked that up too,millions of pounds of free advertising given up just to suit the UK law.
EORH
I think the following quote from a previous comment,says it all! "It is not possible to provide any figures on the number of people who have received free hospital treatment in the UK, having come here from any country in the world. This information is not collected centrally." In their next paragraph they stated that, . . . "On this basis the agreement did not offer value for money for the UK taxpayer." So bearing in mind that previously UK citizens received reciprocal NHS treatment in the Isle of Man-how the hell do they justify that the agreement did not offer good value for UK taxpayers if they collect no data?? Incidentally,how, by their reasoning,does Gibraltar qualify? Let alone places like Azerbaijan et al ?! It seems that a lot more arbitrary decisions on Isle of Man affairs by UK civil servants could be made in future if this UK attitude to the Crown Dependencies persists,and representations on this should be made. Plus,I do not see why any Isle of Man minister is prevented from publicly,politely and firmly stating an opinion on any subject where there is a feeling that we have been disadvantaged in the relationship with the UK. Sadly,some of those in Westminster seem quite ready to make abusive and downright unfriendly comments about the Isle of Man-I thought we were all British?
BRIAN G
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Isle of Man
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 5 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 30 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
