The Department of Health and Social Care has announced a recruitment freeze for non-essential staff roles.

But what are ’non-essential’ roles?

A DHSC spokesmen said: ’Each request to recruit to a vacancy or create a new post will be subject to review by the DHSC’s executive leadership team.

’Essential roles are, generally, those that are critical to the provision of frontline health and social care services, whether directly providing a service or supporting those who do.’

When asked about the effect the move would have on waiting lists, the spokesman said: ’Recruitment will continue for roles that are critical to the delivery of frontline services.

’As such the policy should not adversely affect waiting times.’

Earlier this week the DHSC announced a temporary measure to ’freeze’ recruitment to ease its budget in the upcoming year.

Over the past two years the DHSC has had to seek supplementary funding from Tynwald totalling £20 million.

The 2017/18 budget voted by Tynwald of just under £210 million has influenced the decision to freeze the recruitment of ’non-essential’ roles.

However, vacancies that are critical to frontline health and social care services will continue to be filled by the department.

The DHSC has stated that ’immediate action’ must be taken to stay within budget and avoid seeking additional funding from Tynwald.

Health Minister Kate Beecroft MHK issued a statement which said: ’I want the public to be clear that the DHSC will continue to recruit essential frontline staff to minimise any impact on critical services.

’There will, however, be greater scrutiny of each request before recruitment begins, to ensure that each post is absolutely essential.

’Meanwhile, there will be a complete freeze on recruitment to non-essential vacancies.

’This is a temporary arrangement whilst work continues on developing measures to bring the DHSC’s budget into balance for the longer term.’

The DHSC believes the temporary fixture will be ’likely to continue throughout the financial year’ before it continues to work on its financial position.

Mrs Beecroft added: ’This is not an easy decision to make, but it demonstrates the nature of the budgetary challenge facing the DHSC and the seriousness with which I and the department’s political members view the situation.’

Any recruitment exercises that have begun within health and social care, will be completed by the department.

Further announcements about this will be made in the coming weeks.