By Isle of Wight Observer
I am appalled that the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) is proposing to pull £1.4 million of funding from our Mountbatten Hospice in order to spend the money in Hampshire instead. I am working with the hospice to fight this proposal, and have written to the ICB demanding an urgent meeting so that the ICB can explain why they think it is OK to inflict savage cuts to hospice services – causing Island families more pain at the end of life.
Seeking to redirect funds to the mainland, where there is less need, is unjust and inhumane. This is not a done deal, and I will fight it all the way.
It is somewhat ironic that this is the same week that the Government has announced it is soon to make a decision about a Combined County Mayor Authority for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I remain strongly opposed to it and urge councillors to step up and negotiate with government.
So far the plan removes the name ‘Isle of Wight’ in the title of the combined authority and replaces it with ‘Solent’. Isle of Wight is in the title of other combined organisations like the police, fire service, NHS trust and even the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. When I challenged the Minister about this in person he said that ‘Solent’ was the preferred term in the submission to government signed by the Isle of Wight Council Leader, Phil Jordan. I have asked the council leader to correct the record, but so far he has declined to do so.
The combined Mayor plan includes new powers over buses, rail and road but not ferries. This is an insult to Islanders and further shows that only Hampshire’s priorities are being taken seriously. Additionally, some existing powers will be removed from the Isle of Wight Council (like strategic planning) with more likely to be absorbed upwards over time.
The combined Integrated Care Board for health has shown what happens when the interests of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight collide: Hampshire invariably wins because it has 93 per cent of the combined population.
I remain opposed to the Government’s mayor deal and urge all councillors to say “No thank you” to the Government.