Howard Quayle MHK, the Minister for Health and Social Care has today announced the delegated responsibilities for the Department’s four political members.
 
Mr Dudley Butt MLC retains his responsibility for Health Services, a role he has held since April 2010.  The role covers community health services, public health and Noble’s Hospital.  The Member of Tynwald will chair the new Noble’s Hospital Governance Board which will be formed later this year to strengthen the hospital’s management and governance structure.  The move follows the announcement in February this year of the recommendations by management consultants Beamans following their independent report into the effectiveness of the current management and governance framework at Noble’s Hospital.
 
David Quirk MHK has responsibility for Adult Services which plays a central role in safeguarding the Island’s vulnerable adults whether they have physical or learning disabilities.  Adult Services is also responsible for the care of older people, an area which will face increasing pressure to meet the demand of the Island’s growing older population in the years and decades ahead.
 
Alfred Cannan MHK has responsibility for both Housing Services and for Children and Families Services.  Mr Cannan will lead the Department’s work on Government’s Children’s Services Joint Improvement Plan which was approved by Tynwald this month.  Mr Cannan’s housing responsibilities include affordable housing in the form of public sector properties and the House Purchase Assistance Scheme for first time buyers, amongst other areas.
 
Michael Coleman MLC has been given responsibility for both Mental Health Services and for Corporate Governance across the Department.  The Mental Health Service provides both inpatient and outpatient care to children and adults, from providing services such as talking therapies, to support for drug and alcohol addiction, as well as services for the Island’s older population.
 
This is the first time the area of corporate governance has been specifically delegated to a political member, which the Minister sees as an important step in continuing to raise the prominence of sound corporate governance.
 
Minister Quayle said: “The Department of Health and Social Care has a very broad remit caring for some of the most vulnerable in our community; indeed this Department alone accounts for over one third of the Island’s public sector workforce and spends over a third of all Government revenue.  So I am grateful to have four able colleagues from Tynwald to assist me. 
 
“There are a number of immediate and long-term challenges facing the Department and I am confident that we have in place a political team with the skills and determination to meet these.  We will be working to ensure that safety and quality, along with value for money, are at the top of the agenda. 
 
“Progress is also being made in putting a new senior management team in place, with recruitment of a new Chief Executive complete and the recruitment of a Managing Director and a Medical Director for Noble’s Hospital at an advanced stage.”