Health and social care services have been left rudderless following the sudden resignation of chief executive Mark Charters, says the Liberal Vannin party.

It is calling on Health Minister Howard Quayle to restore staff morale.

LibVan health spokesperson Kate Beecroft MHK said Tynwald members had not yet been briefed on the fact-finding mission to New Zealand undertaken by Mr Quayle and Mr Charters.

She said Mr Quayle's decision to attend the British-Irish Council meeting in Dublin today was an 'error of judgement', adding: 'He should be here talking to and reassuring frontline staff in his department.

'The health services in particular have been left without a head and without a direction. There has been a lot of unrest and I worry for staff morale. They have been left rudderless.'

In a statement, the Civil Service Commission said Mr Charters had left the post of chief executive due to personal reasons. He had been in the role since July last year.

Mrs Beecroft said staff needed reassurances, adding: 'This is possibly an opportunity to take stock and look at the direction we are going on and to listen to the people who are on the front line.'

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