Health chiefs are looking to reduce the number of managers - to try to cut costs and protect frontline services.

Staff on management grades will be able to apply to the government’s Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS).

This follows the freeze on recruitment of non-essential roles announced last month.

Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft MHK said: ’I made clear in the House of Keys that we aim to be able to deliver health and care services to the communities of the Isle of Man with the funds allocated to us by Tynwald each year; and no more

’The temporary recruitment freeze on jobs which are not essential to the delivery of frontline services was our first action, allowing us to put the brake on a certain proportion of our expenditure. Seeking reductions in management roles is a further definitive measure.’

’The DHSC must become financially sustainable, and reducing our expenditure is essential. Carefully managed reductions in some areas of our employee costs will not affect the services for the public provided by the department.’

Mrs Beecroft’s department received an extra £11m funding in this year’s Budget - but it needs to find another £11m in savings.

She told the Courier: ’We are not there yet. The longer is goes on the less likely it will be [to meet that target].’

Members of staff in relevant grades will be able to apply for MARS until December 29 this year.

MARS has been used successfully to reduce staff numbers in various parts of government. In contrast to redundancy, it is a voluntary scheme allowing discussion about the need for certain roles and encouraging restructuring.

Only those members of DHSC staff at defined management grades will be invited to apply for MARS while the scheme is open.

Applicants can be paid a lump sum maximum of 12 months’ pay, based on a month’s pay for each completed year of service.

The latest cut comes after the department announced a cut to meals on wheels and a consultation into increasing charges for prescriptions.