'Time is right' for healthcare boss to step down

The head of Manx Care has said the "time is right" to step down after five years, and since the inception of the healthcare provider.

Chief executive Officer Teresa Cope has announced she is to formally leave her position in the summer.

Manx Care was established as an arms-length body to the Department of Health and Social Care in 2021 following an independent review into health services on the island.

Cope said: "I am immensely proud of what the organisation has achieved over the last five years."

The announcement comes while Manx Care undergoes a governance review, as part of measures to "strengthen and simplify" its relationship with the DHSC.

Cope said: "I have been reflecting on what the next chapter looks like, and with the governance review underway, it feels like now is the right time to look to pass the baton on to someone else to continue the next stage of that journey."

She said that she came to the island in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 with the specific intent of seeing the new organisation established and "improving the quality of care from the ground up".

Cope also stressed that for now it was "business as usual" and she would continue to work with colleagues and the Manx Care board to "ensure there is a seamless handover before I depart in the summer".

Chairman of the board Wendy Reid thanked Cope for her "hard work, dedication and commitment", adding that the creation of Manx Care "from a standing start" was "a huge ask".

Manx Care has had significant challenges meeting budget targets since it was set up, and has posted a deficit each year since then.

An independent governance review by Mersey Internal Audit Agency identified four "fundamental issues", namely funding and strategy; core processes; governance; and communication and engagement.

Healthcare minister Claire Christian said Cope's departure would allow the government to complete its review before beginning recruitment for a successor.

The review, requested by Tynwald, identified areas where the healthcare system was performing well as well as opportunities for improvement, she said.

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