Rebuild public trust
MY PRIORITY
The 2025 Social Attitudes survey indicated that the levels of trust in MHKs, the Council of Ministers, Tynwald and the civil service has fallen.
A British Medical Association (BMA) surveysuggests fewer than a quarter of doctors at Manx Care would recommend it as a place to work.
The recent warning from senior doctors and consultants about a critical shortage of bed capacity at Noble’s was also deeply concerning.
Too often, we see stories about something going terribly wrong or public money spent on the wrong things.
Over time, that chips away at our belief in the system, and in the people who run our services.
Part of the problem is instability at the top. We have had too many ministerial changes, too many interim chief officers, and too little sense of direction from the administration.
I believe that trust can be rebuilt through better habits and a more respectful, open dialogue.
We need:
Clear communication people can understand, with less mixed messages or avoiding difficult conversations.
A reliable healthcare service, with honest communication about the pressures we face.
Stability in our leadership, with ministers and senior officers staying in post long enough to set a direction, see it through, and answer for the results.
I will call for:
Government to tell us what’s working, what’s not, and stand by its decisions.
Manx Care to put more support into front-line services, reduce GP waiting times, and properly listen to patients and staff.
A steadier, more accountable style of leadership, so public confidence can begin to grow again.