Consultation on the Public Health (Functions and General Public Health Duty) Bill 2026

Overview

Providing a legal basis for delivering public health on the Isle of Man

Acts of Tynwald provide the legal basis for the provision of public services on the Island. However, there is not a single Act of Tynwald that sets out the legal basis for Public Health. Instead, the legal basis for the provision of public health services on the Island is provided by a number of Acts of Tynwald, the main ones being:

• The Local Government Act 1985, which provides the legal basis for the appointment of the director of public health and the deputy director of Public Health
   
• The National Health Service Act 2001, which provides most of the legal basis for the services provided by Public Health
   
• The Public Health Act 1990 and associated regulations made by the Council of Ministers, which provide the legal basis for some of the health protection activities undertaken by Public Health

This legislation does not properly encompass the wide range of services and functions undertaken by Public Health. Nor does this legislation allow flexibility for changes to these services in the future.

While Public Health was successfully transferred to Cabinet Office in 2020, it still lacks the legal powers to provide advice and guidance across government, and there is no requirement for Departments to factor public health guidance into policy setting and legislation.

Why your views matter

The work of Public Health affects all members of our Island community. We want to make sure the proposed Bill is right for you and the people you care about. Providing your views will help ensure that the Bill, and the provision of services that it will underpin, works for you.

Reasonable adjustment and alternative formats

The Department is committed to equal opportunities, and our aim it to make our documents easy to use and accessible to all.

We will take steps to accommodate any reasonable adjustment and provide such assistance as you may require to enable you to access, or reply to, this consultation.

If you would like to receive this document in another format or need assistance with accessing or replying to this consultation, please email publichealth@gov.im or call +44 1624 642639.

Sharing your feedback

The proposed Bill provides a clear legal basis for the delivery of public health services on the Island, and provides scope for these services to be changed in the future.

Your feedback is important to ensure the legal basis for these public health services is appropriate to meet the needs of the Island.

You can respond to this consultation online by clicking on the ‘Online survey’ link below.

Alternatively, you can download and complete the PDF version of this consultation in the ‘related’ section below and email it to publichealth@gov.im or print the PDF and post it to:

Public Health,
3^rd Floor Markwell House,
Market Street,
Douglas,
IM1 2RJ

Handing of sensitive personal information

It is not intended for this consultation to gather any personal, medical or health information. Any details of this nature provided within the consultation will be excluded and disposed of under the relevant Data Protection legislation and guidelines (opens in a new tab).

What happens next

Public Health will review and analyse the responses to the consultation.  This analysis will be used to identify themes, suggestions and any potential concerns with the proposed Bill. It will inform and guide any future revisions to the Bill and the timetable for its introduction into the branches of Tynwald.