Politics
‘Too Much Focus’ on Following UK
‘It is not an exaggeration to say that her intervention saved lives.’
Dr Rosalind Ranson’s claims that the Manx gov was too keen to follow the UK during the early stages of the pandemic have been supported by Covid review.
Kate Brunner KC’s report has largely come down in support of the claims made by Dr Ranson during her Tynwald committee and employment tribunal appearances.
One of Dr Ranson’s key claims during her appearance before the Public Accounts Committee was that following the Public Health England advice was ‘flawed’.
The Brunner review says: ‘There were some significant issues. Emergency planning was not adequate, and there was too much focus on following the UK during the early pandemic.’
It adds: ‘An assumption that the Isle of Man would follow the UK, and/or PHE prevented open-minded consideration of what would be best for the island.’
The review found that Dr Ranson had filled a gap as the Director of Public Health, Dr Henrietta Ewart was off-island and was therefore ‘not leading the pandemic response’ and there was ‘no formal advisory group in the command structure’.
It adds: ‘That gap posed a serious risk to the island. It is likely that the Isle of Man would have kept its borders open for longer without her input. It is not an exaggeration to say that her intervention saved lives.’
Borders
Dr Ranson had also repeatedly said that she and other doctors had called for the island’s borders to be closed and that his has been withheld from CoMin.
However, the review found that the advice did reach ministers, but that they decided against implementing them at the time, despite DHSC minister David Ashford agreeing that the borders should be closed.
It adds: ‘In common with many other jurisdictions, the Isle of Man moved later than it should have done to take action to control the virus.
‘Ministers received advice to close borders on March 16 2020 but decided not to take that action immediately. clinicians had set up an informal advisory group under the leadership of the Medical Director, as there was no formal group. Their advice to close the borders was not withheld from Ministers, but Ministers waited until after the first cases on-island before taking that dramatic step.’
The report later goes on to point out that the borders couldn’t be entirely closed anyway due to the island’s dependence on key workers from the UK, as well as supplies being brought in and people receiving treatment in UK hospitals.
