THE Department of Health spoke out in April after a "misunderstanding" over the future of breast care in the Isle of Man.
Bev Critchlow, head of nursing and midwifery, and the Minister of Health David Anderson MHK tried to reassure breast cancer patients after confusion over the department's decision to advertise for a general surgeon rather than a dedicated breast care surgeon.
The issue came to a head when Brenda Cannell, MHK for Douglas East, attacked the Health Minister over this decision and accused him of letting down women in the Island.
However Mr Anderson said that the confusion was down to the wording of the job specification which he called "misleading".
Under a new three year plan for breast care services in the Isle of Man the department decided to appoint a general surgeon with a speciality in breast care.
This person would replace the consultant breast surgeon (who was Ishrak Hamo) who was working as a locum consultant. She replaced Malcolm Clague, a general surgeon who also provided the consultant element of on-Island breast care, who retired.
Noble's Hospital has three general surgeons who between them must cover emergency surgical care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This does not represent best practice as highlighted by the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association.
Miss Hamo, in her locum status, did not provide the emergency surgical care aspect, which led to the department's decision to advertise for a general surgeon who must have a primary specialist interest in breast care.
Mr Anderson said: "I would like to reassure the public of the Isle of Man that this new surgeon will be a highly skilled breast surgeon, who will take lead responsibility for the Island's breast cancer surgery whilst also being able to contribute to the general surgery on-call rota.
"The way the job is advertised might mislead people – a general surgeon with a speciality in breast care, as if the speciality is an add on. The speciality is a major part of the job. The add on is being on call one in four, 24 hours a day as a general surgeon."
This, the department said, was normal practice for an area the size of the Isle of Man. Bev explained: "The majority of breast work is never urgent – it’s planned its organised work. It's rare that breast work is an emergency, its always elective, planned work."
The department met with the Isle of Man Council of Cancer Charities to discuss these plans and agreed to be involved in the recruitment and interviewing process.
Mr Anderson concluded: "I am of course very mindful of the sensitivity concerning cancer treatment but I would like to reassure those concerned that I am absolutely confident that the proposed post, which will ensure that the new general surgeon has a primary specialist interest in breast surgery, will enable the Department of Health to continue to provide the Island's breast cancer patients with the very highest standards of care."
Update: The Royal College of Surgeons approved the Department of Health's plans to appoint a general surgeon with an interest in breast care in May. For more on this click here.
This story is part of isleofman.com's Review of the Year 2011.
