Regulation of Health and Social Care (ROHSC) Bill Public Consultation

Overview

Regulating Health and Social Care Activities

Legislation, or laws, set out the fundamental rules and guidelines for how our health and social care system operates. Health and Social Care legislation is used to make sure that everyone receives safe, high quality medical and social care. Legislation is also used to set the standard of care, protect people’s rights and ensure that the health and social care system is operating efficiently. A ‘Bill’ is a piece of primary legislation and once it has been approved by Tynwald it becomes an Act.

In this case, the Regulation of Health and Social Care Bill (opens in a new tab) intends to replace the Regulation of Care Act 2013 (ROCA) (PDF opens in a new tab) to make sure that all health and social care service providers will now be regulated. To regulate means to make sure things are done properly, safely, or fairly. Regulation will continue to be carried out by the Department of Health and Social Care Registration and Inspection Team, with the option to commission external professionals with subject specific skills if and when required. This is important because it will help to make health and social care on the Island safer and help you to make the best choice possible about the care you want or need to receive.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is seeking feedback on the draft Regulation of Health and Social Care Bill (PDF opens in a new tab), which is due to be introduced in 2026.

The decision to pursue legislative reform comes from Recommendation 8 of the Sir Jonathan Michael Independent Review of the Isle of Man Health and Social Care System (PDF opens in a new tab). The Bill’s principles were established based on an identified need to expand the existing regulatory framework to health and other non-NHS sectors to protect the public and enhance the safety and well-being of service users. 

A programme of early engagement with the local service providers and private businesses (known as ‘stakeholders’) who will be impacted, has already taken place from January to March 2025. The aim of the Bill is to make sure that all services delivering regulated health and social care activities must be subject to consistent and proportionate oversight to ensure safety, effectiveness, and the highest standards of care. This consultation is about understanding your views on how the Bill will work in real life and how it affects you as either a service provider, professional or a service user.

Currently, the DHSC’s Registration and Inspection (R&I) Team (opens in a new tab) is responsible for regulating social care and non-NHS health care providers, including independent clinics. Under the new Bill this remit will expand to include all activities and treatments that may pose any level of risk to people’s safety. This includes services such as physiotherapy, non-surgical cosmetic procedures (e.g. dermal fillers, tattoos, body piercers), general practice, dental surgeries, hospital and community services, and mental health care.

This approach focuses on regulating activities rather than just services and aligns with modern, risk-based regulatory models used in other jurisdictions (like England).

All regulated service providers will be subject to registration, monitoring and inspection. This will help ensure the public can have confidence in receiving compassionate, safe, quality and effective care.

This consultation invites feedback on the draft legal framework, its scope, and how it will work in practice. Your input will help shape the final version of the Bill before it is submitted to Tynwald.

For more information on the background of this Bill please visit the ROHSC Bill webpage (opens in a new tab), where the Frequently Asked Questions can also be found.

Why your views matter

Health and care services impact all members of the Island’s community. We want to make sure that the Regulation of Health and Social Care Bill is right for you and the people you care about. Providing your views will help us to ensure that the Bill, and the provision of services that it will underpin, works for you.

All feedback will be collated to identify themes, suggestions and any potential concerns to help inform and guide any future actions or developments for the Bill to enter the branches of Tynwald.

Reasonable adjustments and alternative formats

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

We will take steps to accommodate any reasonable adjustments and provide such assistance as you may require enabling 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 rohsc@gov.im or call +44 1624 695797.

Sharing your feedback

It is important to understand how this Bill will impact the wider health and social care system.

The proposed changes are significant, and we want to encourage all stakeholders, service providers and the public from across the health and social care system to share their views and participate in the consultation process.

The intention of this consultation is not 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 guidelines (opens in a new tab).

You can respond to this consultation online by clicking on the 'Online survey' link below. Alternatively you can download a paper version of this consultation in the 'Related' section below and email it to rohsc@gov.im or post it to:

Department of Health and Social Care,
1st Floor Belgravia House,
Circular Road,
Douglas,
IM1 1AE