Isle of Man health chiefs are planning talks with the management at Clatterbridge hospital in Liverpool to modernise the system in place for island cancer patients.

Health Minister David Ashford said the new arrangements should be in place by the time Clatterbridge moves into new premises in Liverpool city centre in 2020.

At the moment the Department of Health and Social Care has an agreed tariff plan for patients needing specialist off-island care, which is not available in the island. A visiting consultant from Clatterbridge also comes to the island.

Mr Ashford told Tynwald: ’Both service delivery models have a number of limitations and do not support integrated pathways and "In Reach" services to the island.

’The acute directorate plans to form a partnership arrangement with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop an integrated on- and off-Island shared care pathway for cancer patients who require specialist treatment for solid tumours oncology or blood malignancy haemato-oncology.’

He added: ’We plan to work with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop a sustainable, agreed new service model for 2020-21. This will coincide with Clatterbridge Cancer Centre’s move to their new premises in the centre of Liverpool, where Isle of Man patients will receive their off-Island specialist care.’

The issue was raised by Julie Edge (Onchan) who said some patients were concerned that, following the move into the centre of Liverpool, it may be difficult to find hotel accommodation nearby for those who required it or their companions.

Mr Ashford said the DHSC was in the ’early days’ of discussions with accommodation providers. He pointed out the department had increased the subsistence rates for patients and companions needing accommodation.

In response to an earlier question, the minister also clarified the position on Isle of Man patients who need to take a companion with them when travelling to the UK for treatment.

’Any patient may take a family member or friend with them when attending a hospital appointment in the UK,’ he said.

’If authorised by the consultant who made the referral, the department would fund the travel costs of the companion and they will be eligible to claim a contribution toward any accommodation costs incurred whilst in the UK.’

He added: ’The person who is best placed to make the decision of whether someone needs to be accompanied is the consultant because they are the person undertaking the medical treatment of the person and aware of the situation.’