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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-06 | Benefits for Refugees and asylum seekers approved by Uk | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care for data on benefits, housing costs, and integration spending for UK-approved asylum seekers and refugees. The department refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and may be held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2025-02-06 | DHSC staffing and running costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought detailed staffing numbers, job titles, payroll costs, running expenses, sick days, contract staff, training costs, and regulatory actions for the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The authority provided a breakdown of job titles and specific payroll costs for 2023/24 and part of 2024/25, but withheld the total staff count citing that the information is reasonably accessible via a public quarterly report. | ||
| 2025-02-04 | Parking permits. | Information not held |
| The requester asked for a list of parking permits on Castlemoana Avenue in Douglas held by the Department of Health and Social Care. The department responded that it does not hold this information and suggested the requester contact the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2025-01-28 | Correspondence regarding cuts | Not upheld |
| The request sought correspondence between Manx Care and the Department of Health and Social Care regarding service cuts from October 2024 onwards. The response disclosed an email exchange between the Minister and the Chief Officer discussing an urgent statement about 'more cuts' being reported in the public domain. | ||
| 2025-01-27 | Health Care external quality regulators | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked about compliance with the 2019 Sir Jonathan Michael report regarding external quality regulators for Manx Care, specifically concerning CQC inspections and ratings. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that most information is publicly available online, confirmed that CQC baseline inspections are complete with no further CQC visits planned, and stated that future inspections will not receive formal CQC ratings due to lack of enforcement powers on the Isle of Man. | ||
| 2025-01-16 | Fertility Clinic | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed statistics and costs regarding the Isle of Man Fertility Clinic over the past five years, including patient numbers, referrals, and treatment breakdowns. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information as it is likely held by Manx Care following a 2021 service redesign. | ||
| 2024-12-31 | Settlement Agreements | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics and templates regarding Settlement Agreements issued by the Department of Health and Social Care since September 2021. The Department responded that it does not hold this information, explaining that such matters are managed by the separate Public Service Commission. | ||
| 2024-12-17 | Patient Transfer | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the total amount paid to Loganair for patient transfers and chaperone flights over the last four years. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information as it is likely held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring. | ||
| 2024-12-05 | 2.5 year check questionaiire | Information not held |
| A request was made for the 2.5-year-old healthy child programme questionnaire, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide it because they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2024-11-26 | Ofsted inspection terms of reference | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for Ofsted inspection terms of reference regarding children's services and emails concerning disability service inspections. The Department of Health and Social Care provided some information but withheld specific documents citing exemptions under Section 25 and Section 30(2)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act. | ||
| 2024-11-25 | Health and Social Care Ombudsman Body ("HSCOB") Report 2024 | All information sent |
| The requester asked when the Department of Health and Social Care received the 2024 HSCOB Annual Report and when it would be published. The authority confirmed receipt in August 2024 and stated the report was approved by the Council of Ministers in November 2024 and is now publicly available on the Tynwald Register of Business. | ||
| 2024-11-20 | Minutes of Meetings | All information sent |
| The requester asked for minutes, action logs, and reports from the Children's Services Improvement Board from May 2024 to the present, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed all requested information including a detailed meeting minute from July 23, 2024. | ||
| 2024-11-19 | Learning Disabilities Service Review - TOR | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the terms of reference and the appointed organization for a learning disabilities service review. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information as it is likely held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2024-11-19 | Obesity rates in the Isle of Man | Information not held |
| A request for statistics on obesity and diabetes prevalence, drug prescription costs, and economic impact in the Isle of Man was refused because the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the information. | ||
| 2024-11-18 | MT Buyout | Information not held |
| The requester asked for all correspondence held by the interim Health and Social Care Minister regarding Manx Telecom's offer for a government buyout. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that they do not hold the requested information. | ||
| 2024-11-04 | Enhertu for secondary breast cancer patients in the Island? | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on secondary breast cancer patients eligible for Enhertu and details on NICE guideline exceptions, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information as it is not held by them. | ||
| 2024-11-01 | DHSC staffing | All information sent |
| The request sought detailed staffing numbers, turnover, sickness data, and agency spending for the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) from 2021 to 2024. The authority provided full staffing headcounts and agency expenditure data but refused the request for the original pre-2021 headcount agreement, citing that the information was not held. | ||
| 2024-10-22 | ADHD service business case submitted by CMHSA to Manx Care | Information not held |
| The requester sought a business case and related communications regarding an adult ADHD service submitted by CMHSA to Manx Care. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information as it is managed by the operationally independent Manx Care. | ||
| 2024-10-08 | Cataract Operations | Information not held |
| A request was made for cataract surgery waiting list numbers, monthly operation averages, and clarification on re-listing procedures for the second eye. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information, which is likely held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2024-10-02 | Management reports from Manx Care | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for a management report from Manx Care referenced in a tweet by Lawrie Hooper MHK regarding GP wait times. The Department of Health and Social Care did not send the document, stating it is already reasonably accessible to the public via Manx Care's website. | ||
| 2024-10-02 | 713365 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of patients registered with each GP on the Isle of Man, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2024-09-10 | Non residents claiming benefits | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for data on non-residents and asylum seekers claiming benefits. The department refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and it may be held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2024-09-09 | Temporary Workers Employed via Agencies | All information sent |
| The request sought the number of temporary workers employed via third-party agencies by the Department of Health and Social Care for 2023 and 2024, broken down by grade. The authority disclosed that only three such workers were engaged across both years, noting that their pay grades do not directly align with Public Services Commission scales. | ||
| 2024-09-02 | FoI Costs | All information sent |
| The request sought statistics on FOI responses over three financial years and details on staff handling these requests. The Department disclosed that 276 requests were responded to, with 207 involving practical refusals, and confirmed that while 54 staff members may be involved, only two EO grade coordinators manage the process as an additional duty. | ||
| 2024-08-30 | Costs of 'covid' from 1st Jan 2019 'til today Friday 30th August 2024 | Information not held |
| A request was made for the total costs of COVID-19 measures including masks, tests, legal fees, and vaccines from January 2019 to August 2024. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held, citing a practical refusal reason and suggesting the requester contact Manx Care or the Cabinet Office instead. | ||
| 2024-07-25 | 5G Rollout/Testing | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the rollout or testing of 5G on the Isle of Man. The department responded that they do not hold this information and suggested the requester contact the Communications & Utilities Regulatory Authority (CURA) instead. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | working from home | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on employees working from home at the Department of Health and Social Care between December 2022 and December 2023. The authority refused the request stating they do not hold the specific data, as home working is monitored individually by line managers rather than centrally recorded. | ||
| 2024-07-23 | Homecare & respite for special, complex & additional needs | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on homecare and respite services for school-age children with complex needs, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2024-07-22 | Emergency Hospital Admissions | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on emergency hospital admissions with multiple chronic conditions at Nobles Hospital for specific years, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the data. | ||
| 2024-07-16 | Yellowcard reports for all vaccines from MHRA | Information not held |
| The requester asked the Department of Health and Social Care for details on MHRA Yellowcard data sharing agreements and specific vaccine adverse event reports for the Isle of Man. The authority responded that they do not hold the requested information and confirmed there is no existing agreement or process to share Yellowcard data with the MHRA. | ||
| 2024-07-15 | Children's services improvement board | All information sent |
| The requester asked for minutes and papers from the Children's Services Improvement Board from January 2024 to the present, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed all requested information. | ||
| 2024-07-11 | Covid boosters | Information not held |
| The requester asked for total numbers of individuals receiving Covid boosters in 2023-2024 and first vaccinations in 2020-2023. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating the information is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2024-07-11 | CEO vacancy job description and advertising 2019/2020 | Information not held |
| The Department of Health and Social Care responded to a request for information regarding a 2019/2020 CEO vacancy, NHS secondment pools, and work permit outsourcing by stating the information is not held. | ||
| 2024-07-10 | DHSC and Manx Care's powers in 2020 in respects of private dentists | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the legislation under which a dentist and co-workers visited a private surgery in September 2020. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that it does not hold this information, citing a practical refusal reason as the data may be held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring. | ||
| 2024-07-02 | Residential qualification ignored? | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics and decision-making details regarding overrides of the five-year residency requirement for three specific benefits over the past ten years. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held by them and may be held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2024-07-01 | Covid Jabs at pharmacies | Information not held |
| The requester asked about discussions regarding private COVID-19 vaccinations at Isle of Man pharmacies and when such services would be available. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that they do not hold records of specific inquiries on this topic, though they noted discussions have occurred regarding GP-led vaccination programs. | ||
| 2024-06-11 | The Calculation of Contribution Based JSA for Temporary Workers | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding how temporary employment income affects Contribution Based Job Seekers Allowance eligibility. The authority responded that the information is not held by them and may be held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2024-05-28 | Name the people who have accessed my medical records | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the names, reasons, and dates of individuals who accessed their medical records since the Data Protection Act came into force. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information as it is managed by Manx Care. | ||
| 2024-05-16 | Information regarding Braddan Commissioner's Roundhouse | Information not held |
| The requester asked for legal evidence regarding the Department of Health and Social Care's right to restrict access to the Braddan Commissioner's Roundhouse and correspondence between the Health Minister and Chief Executive. The Department responded that it does not hold the requested information, citing practical refusal reasons and directing the applicant to other government resources for land ownership and public rights of way data. | ||
| 2024-05-09 | Recording of DHSC meeting with Braddan Commissioners | Upheld - partial |
| The requester sought a recording of a May 2024 meeting between the Department of Health and Social Care and Braddan Commissioners regarding access to the Nobles Hospital estate. The response disclosed the meeting's attendees, a detailed summary of the discussion on vehicular access and land sales, and the conflicting positions of both parties, though the recording itself was not provided. | ||
| 2024-05-03 | Rheumatology | Information not held |
| 2024-05-02 | Nursing Agencies registered with Registrations and Inspections | All information sent |
| The request sought details on registered nursing agencies, investigation procedures for fee-paying nurses, and enforcement actions against unregistered agencies. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed two registered agencies, provided the enforcement policy document, and confirmed no enforcement actions have been taken in the last five years. | ||
| 2024-05-01 | Covid Vaccine Contracts | Information not held |
| A request for copies of Covid vaccine contracts procured for the Isle of Man was denied by the Department of Health and Social Care because they do not hold the information. The authority indicated that the contracts are likely held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring that separated policy from service delivery. | ||
| 2024-04-24 | Road | Upheld - partial |
| The request sought correspondence and meeting records regarding access to the Braddan Roundhouse via the Nobles Hospital site between October 2021 and the request date. The response was partially upheld, disclosing letters and emails confirming Manx Care's opposition to permanent access due to traffic risks, particularly during TT periods. | ||
| 2024-03-28 | Inflammatory bowel disease numbers in the community | Information not held |
| 2024-03-22 | Health record + CAMHS | Information not held |
| 2024-03-19 | *Personal identifiable information removed* - Protected Disclosure dated 5th December 2022; | Information not held |
| 2024-03-19 | Potential reduction in the out-of-hours doctors service (Meds) | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| 2024-03-18 | Request for criteria for categorising disability access support. | Information not held |
| 2024-03-12 | HSCC complaint against Lawrie Hooper and Tanya August Hanson report | Information not held |
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