Health Watchdog 'Inundated' With Concerns About Mountbatten Funding Cuts

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 per cent (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 two 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 May 13 to June 12 feedback was also 27 per cent positive (101) and two per cent 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 8.30am 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."