The Island’s health watchdog has been ‘inundated’ with concerns about funding cuts to hospice charity, Mountbatten Isle of Wight.
Healthwatch Isle of Wight’s latest Intelligence Report shows a dramatic spike in negative overall feedback to 71% (259 responses) for Island health and social care services.
The Mountbatten concerns come after NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight announced what hospice group chief executive, Nigel Hartley, described as a ‘devastating decision’ to withdraw around £1.4 million a year in critical funding for the organisation.
Healthwatch received almost 150 negative responses relating to (end-of-life) palliative care, one of the report’s 2 most common feedback topics.
Commenting on the report, an NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight spokesperson said it recognised the hospice’s ‘fantastic work’ on the Island.
They said:
“That is why we are having productive conversations with the hospice now and into the future, working together to ensure they can continue to provide their high level of care for those who need it on the Island.”
Healthwatch’s 13th May to 12th June feedback was also 27% positive (101) and 2% mixed or neutral (7). GP services was the other most common feedback topic, with responses largely negative.
One resident told Healthwatch:
“My GP surgery does not allow you to forward book doctors appointments and insists that you try to phone each day from 08:30 and sit in a very, very long queue with no guarantee that you can get an appointment.”
The NHS spokesperson said:
“Our GPs are seeing more patients than ever, and we now have multi-professional teams working in practices to provide specialist care for those who need it.
“The results from the 2024 GP Patient Survey were published last week and we are pleased to see so many of our patients on the Isle of Wight have had a positive experience. This is something we want to ensure we continue providing and building upon.”
The report also flags ‘long waits’ for orthopaedic surgery.
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight singled out dentistry services which gained more positive than negative feedback in Healthwatch’s report.
They said:
“Dental access continues to improve with further increases planned for 2026 as we continually strive to ensure the NHS is delivering the best care for everyone in the most sustainable way as part of our work towards delivering the 10 Year Health Plan, so the NHS is fit for the future.”
Finally, the spokesperson thanked the watchdog for ‘all they are doing to give local people on the Island a voice on these very important healthcare issues’.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“The council is proud of the service it commissions from Healthwatch Isle of Wight and values the work they do to support Island residents.
“The Healthwatch Isle of Wight Intelligence Report provides great insight into health and social care locally and forms part of the council’s oversight of services.
“The themes and trends identified shape our services and those that are commissioned.”
This government as shown it’s true hand, no need for hospices when there is legal euthanasia.
That’s one way to decrease the population and save on
winter fuel allowances and pensions.
Who would have ever thought in later years they would
resort to such measures.
People can be so cruel, yet they want our votes.
It’s a pity the hospice can’t get some lottery funding too for this vital service
It’s all due to overcrowding & will only get worse. When will the Government realise the creeping impact every migrant has & then they start spawning.