The health minister has referred to the longevity of the Isle of Man's health system as a "phenomenal achievement" as the island celebrates 75 years since its founding.
On Tynwald Day in 1948, the Manx NHS, which was established in conjunction with the UK service, officially launched.
The fact that the service had endured for so long "without too much interference," according to Lawrie Hooper, was "remarkable.".
He did note that maintaining the system was still "extremely challenging.".
It's fair to say that the entire system is in flux, according to Mr. Hooper.
"I think it's difficult to deliver that while adhering to some of those core principles around free-at-the-point-of-use and making sure people receive the services they require rather than the services they pay for.
"I just can't even put into words the amount of admiration and respect I have for everyone who works within that system to make that happen. ".
In April 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care handed over control of the island's health services to the newly established arms-length company Manx Care.
At the Tynwald meeting in July, Mr. Hooper remarked that it was "really interesting" that he would now be "arguing for a further expansion of the NHS.".
According to him, proposals would be made to develop a new model that would include nursing care as well as life-long care and residential care.
It's fitting, I suppose, that on the 75th anniversary of the National Health Service's founding, he would go to Tynwald and formally request permission to transform the organization into a national health and care service.
Therefore, the timing is ideal in some ways.
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