Department of Health and Social Care
644 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 27.6%
The Freedom of Information requests reveal a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) under intense scrutiny regarding workforce stability, procurement transparency, and clinical performance. A dominant narrative is the struggle to manage staffing levels, evidenced by repeated requests on bank staff costs, zero-hours contracts, and the 'MARS' redundancy scheme. The authority has been largely transparent about the *existence* of these issues—disclosing relocation packages for nurses and the financial cost of redundancies—but often cites 'excessive compilation effort' or 'data limitations' when asked for granular breakdowns of costs or specific staff categories. This suggests a reactive administrative culture where data is held in silos, making comprehensive analysis difficult for the public.
Key Cases
Case 355345 — This case reveals a significant ethical transparency regarding vaccine ingredients. The authority confirmed that specific vaccines use historical cell lines from legal abortions in the 1960s but explicitly stated this information is not currently provided to patients on consent forms, raising questions about informed consent practices.
Case 355291 — A rare and specific disclosure regarding the Isle of Man TT, revealing the exact amounts recovered from private insurance for race-related medical treatments and confirming that no competitors required Intensive Therapy Unit admission in 2017, providing concrete data on the health impact of major sporting events.
Case 355301 — This case highlights a potential conflict of interest involving the Minister (Hon K Beecroft) and her company, Manx Home Care. While transfer statistics were released, the authority admitted it did not hold the specific contract files, suggesting a fragmentation of records or a deliberate separation of procurement data from the health department.
Case 355253 — The request regarding the 2006 Everall Report (a major child welfare inquiry) was refused on the grounds that the DHSC does not hold the implementation data, which was assigned to the Chief Secretary's Office. This points to a systemic lack of accountability tracking for long-term child protection reforms.
Case 361157 — This case quantifies the cost of the Mutual Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS), disclosing the total payout and annual savings. It serves as a concrete financial metric for the department's strategy to reduce staffing costs through voluntary redundancies.
Related FOI Stories
Dental Services and UDA Performance — #355317, #355117, #355319, #355331, #420033
Workforce Crisis: Recruitment, Retention, and MARS — #355311, #355143, #355153, #355357, #355281
Procurement, Contracts, and Ministerial Conflicts of Interest — #355217, #355161, #355247, #355301, #358156
Clinical Services: Endoscopy, Waiting Lists, and Procedures — #355115, #355219, #355223, #355263, #355387
Public Health, Vaccination, and Substance Abuse — #356085, #355133, #355145, #355229, #355333
All (644)
Information not held (271) ·
All information sent (178) ·
Some information sent but not all held (97) ·
Some information sent but part exempt (44) ·
No information sent - all held but exempt (17) ·
Not upheld (12) ·
Upheld - partial (11) ·
Request lapsed - requested information not provided (4) ·
Not required to fulfill request (4) ·
Upheld - full (3) ·
Repeated request (1) ·
Neither confirm or deny information held (1) ·
Decision Notice - Complaint upheld (1) ·
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-08-01 | Cancer treatment ' transfer off island | All information sent |
| The request sought the policy on free transfer trips for cancer patients treated off the Isle of Man. The authority disclosed that patients are normally funded for one return visit home every two weeks, with individual consideration for more frequent trips. | ||
| 2019-07-31 | Licence to research and develop Medical Cannabis | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the procedure to apply for a medical cannabis research licence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1976. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that no specific local procedure currently exists, as they are still assessing how to introduce a regulatory regime following recent consultations. | ||
| 2019-07-30 | Mental Health Unit | All information sent |
| 2019-07-29 | Lead related illnesses | All information sent |
| A request was made for the number of people treated for lead poisoning in the Isle of Man over the last five years. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that two patients were treated for this condition at Nobles Hospital during that period. | ||
| 2019-07-15 | Adult Social Care information request | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for information on Adult Social Care supported living providers, waiting lists, service models, and budgets was partially fulfilled by the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority disclosed details on provider numbers and service structures but stated that some requested data, including specific complaint statistics and budget figures, was not held. | ||
| 2019-07-09 | Visit Report Surgical Specialities and Care of People with Cancer 2015 | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a breakdown of quality standards met by Nobles Hospital following a 2015 report, but the Department of Health and Social Care only provided an aggregate improvement figure, citing that the specific breakdown would require creating new information. | ||
| 2019-07-01 | Waiting list and patients not sleeping on wards in the last 6 weeks | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2019-06-26 | Waiting times and GPs | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care for data on GP staffing, appointment availability, patient registration, waiting times, and Patient Access app usage. The authority disclosed all requested information, providing detailed breakdowns by practice and specific statistics for the period between March and July 2019. | ||
| 2019-06-21 | Data on child social care | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for data on complaints regarding inaccurate social worker reports and related legal actions over the last 24 months. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed statistics on complaints but refused to provide data on refusals to correct reports, court usage of inaccurate reports, or disciplinary actions, citing that the information was not held or would require creating new data. | ||
| 2019-05-27 | Pancreatic cancer and pancreaticoduodenectomy | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for statistics on pancreaticoduodenectomy referrals, costs, and patient outcomes in the Isle of Man between 2014 and 2018. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that only three such surgeries were performed, all at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, but refused to provide referral numbers or costs as the data was not held in a reportable format. | ||
| 2019-05-22 | 2012 Report of Colorectal Surgery at Noble's | All information sent |
| The request sought a confidential 2012 investigative report by Mr. Stevan George Stojkovic regarding complications in elective colorectal surgery at Noble's Hospital, which was fully disclosed by the Department of Health and Social Care. The report details a specific case of unnecessary surgery and post-operative sepsis, leading to recommendations for improved clinical guidelines and monitoring. | ||
| 2019-05-20 | Pancreatic Cancer in the Isle of Man | All information sent |
| A request was made for statistics on total deaths, cancer deaths, and pancreatic cancer diagnoses, treatments, and survival rates in the Isle of Man between 2013 and 2018. The Department of Health and Social Care provided annual death and cancer statistics, pancreatic cancer diagnosis numbers from 2014 onwards, and treatment breakdowns, but noted that validated survival rate data was not yet available. | ||
| 2019-05-20 | Adoption | All information sent |
| A Freedom of Information request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care regarding adoption statistics, specifically concerning waiting adopters, children in foster care with adoption plans, and foster-to-adopt placements. The authority responded by disclosing specific figures for all three questions asked. | ||
| 2019-05-13 | Orthodontic Care | All information sent |
| The request sought details on orthodontic consultant payments, staffing numbers, salaries, and travel costs for the Isle of Man's primary and secondary care sectors between 2017 and 2019. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that two consultants work under bank contracts with travel and accommodation covered, while primary care services were contracted out to Regent Health Services Ltd in October 2017. | ||
| 2019-05-13 | Annual UDA reports of all NHS Dental performers on the island | All information sent |
| The request sought annual UDA performance reports for all NHS dental contractors on the Isle of Man, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed provisional 2018-2019 delivery figures alongside an explanation of the UDA banding system and contract rules. | ||
| 2019-04-30 | Current prescribers on the Isle of Man | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for a list of medical, dental, and nurse prescribers on the Isle of Man for 2018/2019. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed such a list exists but refused to disclose it, citing security concerns regarding individual prescribers. | ||
| 2019-04-03 | Chemists | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the average pay of chemists and their average profit on medications. The authority refused to provide the information, stating it was not held and would require the creation of new data. | ||
| 2019-04-03 | Annual spend | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the Department of Health and Social Care's total expenditure as of 31 March 2019, but no information was disclosed because it is exempt under section 41 pending future publication to Tynwald. | ||
| 2019-04-01 | Kensington Group Practice | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for staffing, appointment availability, and financial data for Kensington Group Practice was partially fulfilled by the Department of Health and Social Care. While current GP numbers and appointment policies were disclosed, historical data on emergency appointments and waiting times were withheld as they are not held in the requested format. | ||
| 2019-03-27 | Adoption numbers | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought statistics on Isle of Man adoptions and foster care placements over the last five years. The Department of Health and Social Care provided specific adoption figures and current foster care numbers but could not supply data on non-resident children adopted by islanders registered with external agencies. | ||
| 2019-03-21 | Nobles beds | Information not held |
| The requester asked for emails from the bed flow manager to ward staff regarding A&E patient transfer delays due to full capacity in the last 28 days. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that no such emails exist because all relevant communications are conducted verbally. | ||
| 2019-03-21 | GP Facts & Figures | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for GP contracts, payment data from 2012, contract values, controlled drug prescriber lists, and complaint statistics. The Department of Health and Social Care provided a copy of the Standard General Medical Services Contract dated April 1, 2018, but withheld other specific data citing partial exemptions. | ||
| 2019-03-19 | Financial information relating to retail outlet at Nobles Hospital. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for financial statements and management accounts for the retail shop at Nobles Hospital for the last two years of public administration by the DHSC. The authority responded that separate statements are not produced but provided an extract of employee costs, income, and expenditure covering the period from November 2016 to February 2019. | ||
| 2019-03-08 | Adoption - cost of external placement | All information sent |
| The request sought the cost charged to external adoption agencies for placing children with Isle of Man adopters. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that the current interagency fee is £27,000, based on Coram BAAF guidance. | ||
| 2019-03-01 | Numbers of deaths by suicide on the Isle of Man. | All information sent |
| The requester asked for suicide death statistics for the Isle of Man from 2014 to 2018, and the Department of Health and Social Care provided confirmed figures for 2014-2016 while noting that data for 2017 and 2018 was incomplete at the time of response. | ||
| 2019-02-26 | Isle of Man Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance Relationship | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the operational relationship, funding, and tendering processes between the Isle of Man Ambulance Service and St John Ambulance, including potential conflicts of interest. The authority disclosed that St John Ambulance provides an Urgent Transfer Service using IoMAS vehicles and supplies, with training provided by IoMAS, and previously offered informal surge capacity. | ||
| 2019-02-15 | Emails between the Patient Flow Manager & CEO of DHSC Re: bed availability on 03/02/2019 | Information not held |
| 2019-01-23 | Endowment Committees | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a list of existing Endowment Committees, their balances, and their disbursement amounts for 2018. The Department of Health and Social Care provided the list of committees but stated it did not hold financial data for these independent charities. | ||
| 2019-01-22 | Number of patients per GP | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of patients per registered GP on the Isle of Man, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed a table showing patient counts and full-time equivalent doctor numbers for each practice as of 31 December 2018. | ||
| 2019-01-22 | Waiting times for GP appointments | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for average GP appointment waiting times per practice for each quarter of 2018, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated it did not hold data in that specific format. Instead, the authority provided a snapshot of next available urgent and routine appointment times for various practices as of January 2019. | ||
| 2019-01-21 | More Information requested for FOI 658665 Question 1 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of inquests held among 238 patient deaths previously identified, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold this specific data. | ||
| 2019-01-10 | Information on the sums of monies paid out in lieu of legal action | Information not held |
| The requester asked for annual financial settlement data for Noble's Hospital between 2012 and 2016 regarding legal actions taken by patients in lieu of court proceedings. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating the specific information is not held and would require substantial collation to create. | ||
| 2019-01-07 | Oncology | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for the total cost and contractor details regarding the conversion of Ward 5 for an oncology unit. The authority disclosed the current funding figure and the appointed contractor but noted that the final total cost cannot be determined until the works are completed. | ||
| 2019-01-07 | Diabetes costs for Individual Appointments, Annual Reviews and Pump Supplies | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought specific costs for diabetes appointments and Animas pump supplies at Nobles Hospital. The authority disclosed estimated appointment costs and annual consumable ranges but refused to provide a specific cost for annual reviews as the data was not held separately. | ||
| 2018-12-28 | Menopause | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for data on menopause diagnoses by age and HRT prescription comparisons with NHS averages, but the authority only provided HRT prescription item counts and costs for gels, patches, and tablets for the 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 financial years. | ||
| 2018-12-28 | menopause | Information not held |
| A request was made for monthly statistics on HRT absorption blood tests over the last 3-5 years, but the Department of Health and Social Care confirmed they do not hold this specific data. | ||
| 2018-12-24 | MIAA REPORT | All information sent |
| The request asked when MIAA recommendations were activated and if a further review would be conducted. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that changes began immediately after April 1, 2018, and stated that a re-audit is not currently planned as progress is monitored internally. | ||
| 2018-11-30 | MRSA | All information sent |
| A request was made for MRSA incident records at Noble's Hospital over the past three years, specifically including maternity and infant wards. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that there were five bloodstream infections in that period, none of which occurred in maternity or neonatal services. | ||
| 2018-11-28 | Vacancy and resignation numbers | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought resignation statistics and reasons for Noble's Hospital since 2013, but the authority only provided a partial list of job advertisements for 2018, citing exemptions for the remaining data. | ||
| 2018-11-22 | Deaths before discharge | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for data on deaths before discharge and injuries extending discharge dates at Nobles Hospital over five years. The authority disclosed the number of deaths with expected discharge dates but stated it does not hold data on injuries extending discharge dates or ward-specific breakdowns. | ||
| 2018-11-21 | MS patients | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request for comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis statistics in the Isle of Man since 1990 was partially fulfilled, with the Department of Health and Social Care providing data from 2007 onwards based on hospital records while refusing pre-2007 data and specific village-level breakdowns. | ||
| 2018-11-12 | Care of the elderly | All information sent |
| The requester asked who is responsible for ensuring elderly patients at Noble's Hospital are safely put to bed in the evenings and if this is a designated duty in job descriptions. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that while it is not a specific line in job descriptions, it is a collective responsibility of the multidisciplinary team, with Registered Nurses delegating tasks to Healthcare Assistants under the supervision of the Senior Sister. | ||
| 2018-11-12 | Complaints Request | All information sent |
| A request was made for the total number of complaints against Nobles Hospital from January 2015 to October 2018, and the Department of Health and Social Care provided a full breakdown of formal complaints and patient contacts for that period. | ||
| 2018-10-26 | Vitamin D Test Results | All information sent |
| The Department of Health and Social Care provided a comprehensive summary of Vitamin D test results from Noble's Hospital for the period January 2013 to September 2018, categorized by both the requester's specified ranges and the hospital's standard British Endocrinology Society ranges. | ||
| 2018-10-12 | Mental Health waiting list | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for the number and reasons for cancelled mental health Step 1 and 2 appointments between January and October 2018. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that 2,496 appointments were cancelled but refused to provide reasons for 1,040 of them due to practical refusal grounds. | ||
| 2018-10-04 | Neurology waiting list | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the current waiting times for neurology appointments. The authority disclosed that urgent referrals are seen within 6 weeks, while routine referrals face a wait of up to 10 months. | ||
| 2018-10-01 | Funding for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome treatment | All information sent |
| The request sought information on funding decisions, available treatments, and waiting lists for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in the Isle of Man. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that current treatments are based on 2007 NICE guidelines (CBT and GET), noted patient concerns about GET, and provided specific neurology referral waiting list statistics. | ||
| 2018-09-28 | Waiting times | All information sent |
| The request sought current waiting times for Capsule Endoscopies and MRI scans from the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority disclosed that the next available routine appointment for a Capsule Endoscopy is July 2019, while MRI waiting times range from 4-6 weeks for urgent cases to 5 months for routine referrals. | ||
| 2018-09-26 | Vitamin d blood testing | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the full criteria for authorizing vitamin D blood tests for patients and doctors. The Department of Health and Social Care responded by stating the information is already reasonably accessible and provided a direct link to the relevant PDF document. | ||
| 2018-09-14 | DHSC & stress leave | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual statistics on DHSC staff taking stress leave, broken down by profession, from the earliest available date to the present. The Department of Health and Social Care responded by providing the requested data in a table, noting that absences are recorded by start year and reasons are self-reported. | ||
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