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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-02-07 | Mortality figure 2021 | Information not held |
| A request for the Isle of Man mortality figure for 2021 was submitted to the Department of Health and Social Care, but the information was not disclosed because the department does not hold it. | ||
| 2022-02-07 | Covid deaths per month | Information not held |
| The requester asked for monthly statistics on COVID-19 deaths where the virus was the sole cause from January 2020 to the present. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold this specific data and suggested contacting the General Registry instead. | ||
| 2022-02-07 | Deaths from heart | Information not held |
| The requester asked for monthly death statistics from cardiac arrest and stroke between January 2017 and January 2022. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and suggesting it may be held by the General Registry. | ||
| 2022-02-03 | Covid deaths | Information not held |
| A request was made for the number of Isle of Man deaths caused solely by Covid-19 without underlying conditions, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the data as they do not hold it. | ||
| 2022-02-03 | Benefits claims | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on the number of benefit recipients and total monetary amounts paid on the Isle of Man between 2019 and 2021, including specific data on benefit reductions during COVID-19 lockdowns. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating the information is not held by them and is likely held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Renumeration for Isle of Man Vaccine Schedule | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding per-vaccine remuneration for medical staff under the Isle of Man vaccination schedule. The authority responded that the information is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Renumeration for Remdesivir | Information not held |
| A request was made regarding financial payments for prescribing Remdesivir and patient mortality statistics, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2022-01-25 | National Health Elective Surgery | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details on private healthcare providers commissioned for hip and knee replacements in the North West of England and surgery statistics at Noble's Hospital. The Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the specific data as it is held by Manx Care, though they disclosed the preferred providers listed in the original business case. | ||
| 2022-01-11 | Health Services Independent Review Body (IRB) Appointments Commission | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought correspondence between the Appointments Commission and the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the Independent Review Bodies from January 2020 onwards. The authority disclosed email chains and a draft letter detailing recruitment difficulties and potential legislative changes, though the outcome was marked as partially exempt. | ||
| 2022-01-11 | NHS Dentists | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of people on the NHS Dentist waiting list and average wait times as of January 11, 2022. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the data, which is held by Manx Care, but provided a statistic for November 2021. | ||
| 2022-01-05 | Childhood Diabetes | Information not held |
| A request was made for annual statistics on childhood type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnoses over the last five years on the Isle of Man. 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. | ||
| 2021-12-23 | Omicron virus | Information not held |
| A request was made for genomic data, isolation procedures, and evidence of Omicron contagion, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2021-12-23 | Delta virus | Information not held |
| A request was made for genomic data, isolation procedures, and evidence regarding the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-12-23 | Kent virus | Information not held |
| A request was made for genomic data, isolation methods, and evidence regarding the 'Kent strain' of SARS-CoV-2. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information as it may be held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring. | ||
| 2021-12-15 | Community deaths and abbotswood | Information not held |
| A request for monthly statistics on community deaths, paramedic callouts, and Abbotswood nursing home data from 2017 to 2021 was made to the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and suggesting the requester contact the General Registry or Manx Care instead. | ||
| 2021-12-09 | Studies and papers to support Isle of Man policies. | Information not held |
| The requester asked for studies, papers, and benefit vs harm analyses supporting Isle of Man COVID policies, specifically regarding masks and child vaccinations. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information, which may be held by Public Health, though they provided external links to JCVI advice and MHRA approvals. | ||
| 2021-12-06 | Mrs K Malone Dir of Governance &Legislation &Dep CEO: Qualifications | Upheld - partial |
| A request for the qualifications, salary, and appointment details of Mrs Karen Malone, Deputy CEO of the Department of Health and Social Care, was partially upheld. Personal data was withheld under absolute exemption, while recruitment process details were refused on the grounds that the Department does not hold them. | ||
| 2021-12-06 | Mrs Kathryn Magson, Interim CEO DHSC, relevant experience etc | Upheld - partial |
| A request was made for personal details, salary, and employment history regarding Mrs Kathryn Magson, Interim CEO of the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care. The authority refused to disclose the information, citing an absolute exemption for personal data under Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2021-12-06 | Proof of an actual HIV virus said to cause symptoms called 'AIDS' | Information not held |
| A request was made for proof of an isolated HIV virus sample free from cellular debris and contaminants. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that they do not hold this information, suggesting it may be held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-12-06 | Proof of the 'HPV' human papilloma virus said to cause cervical cancer | Information not held |
| A request was made for proof of a fully purified and isolated HPV virus sample free from cellular debris, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2021-12-03 | Manx care employee travel costs | Information not held |
| A request was made for the number of Manx Care staff with unlimited travel and total travel costs since inception, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2021-11-29 | Covid variant and vaccines | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding COVID-19 variant testing methods and infection rates among double-vaccinated individuals. The authority refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and may be held by Public Health. | ||
| 2021-11-25 | Vaccines and vaccinations for/ of pneumonia and shingles | Information not held |
| A request was made for data on the purchase, usage, and destruction of pneumonia and shingles vaccines for the 2020-2021 period. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held by them and is likely held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-11-25 | Request for information on local incidence of stress and anxiety | Information not held |
| A request for statistics on stress and anxiety incidence, diagnoses, prescriptions, and economic impact on the Isle of Man between 2017 and 2021 was refused because the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the information. | ||
| 2021-11-25 | Covid swab DNA use | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the disposal, sale, and privacy policies of COVID-19 swab samples containing DNA. The department refused to provide the information, stating it is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care or the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2021-11-24 | STATE PENSION | Information not held |
| The requester asked for dates and sample letters regarding the notification of women about the progressive increase in state pension age from 60 to 66. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and it may be held by the Treasury. | ||
| 2021-11-11 | IOM GOV funding of Manx Media | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for data on government funding of Manx media institutions between 2010 and 2021. The department refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and suggesting it may be held by the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2021-11-08 | Foreign sports people vax status 2021 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the COVID-19 vaccination status of foreign sports personnel visiting the Isle of Man between January and November 2021. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and suggesting it may be held by the Cabinet Office. | ||
| 2021-11-01 | Accuracy of LFD testing regime | Information not held |
| The requester asked for records showing the specificity and sensitivity of COVID-19 testing procedures used on the Isle of Man in October 2021. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held by them and may be held by Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-10-25 | Tribunals | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the number of employment tribunals lost and associated payout costs by the Department of Health and Social Care since January 2019. The authority responded that the information is not held by them as it may be held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring, and directed the requester to the Isle of Man Courts Judgements Online. | ||
| 2021-10-05 | Vaccine releated death/adverse reactions/hospitalisations/yellow card | Information not held |
| The Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide specific figures for vaccine-related deaths, injuries, adverse reactions, and hospitalisations, stating the information is not held by the Department. For Yellow Card reports, the Department cited an exemption because the data is already reasonably accessible via a UK MHRA Freedom of Information response. | ||
| 2021-10-04 | Costs for off island recruitment costs | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for off-island recruitment costs for the Department of Health and Social Care over five years, but the department only held data for the period after its redesign in April 2021, referring older data to Manx Care. | ||
| 2021-10-04 | Unfilled job listings | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for overall job listings and unfilled vacancy figures for the Department of Health and Social Care over the last five years. The Department disclosed data only for the period from April to October 2021, stating that information for the full five-year period is held by Manx Care following a structural redesign. | ||
| 2021-09-28 | Pregnant women | Information not held |
| A request was made for scientific studies on COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women and specific statistics on hospitalizations and premature births among pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 in the Isle of Man. The Department of Health and Social Care stated it does not hold the requested statistical data or specific studies, citing a practical refusal, though it provided general vaccination guidance from the JCVI. | ||
| 2021-09-09 | Doctors employed by DHSC not Manx Care | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the number of medical doctors directly employed by the Department of Health and Social Care following the establishment of Manx Care. The authority disclosed that one doctor is employed but refused to provide further breakdowns, citing that the information is already reasonably accessible via public websites. | ||
| 2021-09-08 | Clinical studies used as supporting evidence for mask requirements | Information not held |
| The requester asked for clinical studies and related data supporting mask requirements in healthcare settings, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2021-09-06 | Deaths from Covid versus deaths with Covid | Information not held |
| The requester asked for detailed statistics on Covid-19 deaths in the Isle of Man, including causes and demographics. 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. | ||
| 2021-08-30 | SARS COV2 Variant identification | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the method used to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 variants from standard positive tests. 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. | ||
| 2021-08-30 | 5G safety Data | Information not held |
| A request was made for all safety data, research, and due diligence regarding 5G usage conducted by Isle of Man government departments. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held and therefore could not be disclosed. | ||
| 2021-08-30 | Remdesivir usage and hospital admissions | Information not held |
| The requester asked for Remdesivir usage statistics and hospital admission data from 2010 to 2021, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2021-08-26 | Naseem's Manx Brain Tumour Charity - 1046 | Information not held |
| A request was made for 10-year statistics on primary brain tumour diagnoses and demographics for Isle of Man residents. 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. | ||
| 2021-08-16 | Midazolam and Morphine | Information not held |
| The requester asked for prescription and usage statistics for Midazolam and Morphine from 2010 to 2021, as well as COVID-19 treatment protocols. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information, which is likely held by Manx Care following a 2021 restructuring. | ||
| 2021-08-10 | Procurement of Supplies for PCR Tests | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the names of companies procuring PCR test supplies for on-island testing, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information. | ||
| 2021-08-09 | Informed Consent | Information not held |
| A request for the full nucleotide base sequences of approved COVID vaccines and data on spike protein biodistribution, half-life, and toxicity was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care. The authority responded that the information is not held, citing a practical refusal reason under Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015. | ||
| 2021-08-09 | Differentiating between variants | Information not held |
| A request was made for details on the SARS-CoV-2 variant differentiation testing process and virus isolates, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2021-08-02 | Covid 19 | Information not held |
| A request was made for the number of vaccinated and unvaccinated people hospitalized with Covid-19 as of August 2, 2021. 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 structural redesign. | ||
| 2021-07-26 | Covid statistics ratio vaccinated & unvaccinated | Information not held |
| The requester asked for June and July 2021 statistics on COVID-19 positive cases broken down by vaccination status. 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. | ||
| 2021-07-23 | Nobles Hospital | Information not held |
| A request was made for a 10-year breakdown of patient admissions to Nobles Hospital for specific conditions including strokes, heart issues, and miscarriages. 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. | ||
| 2021-07-23 | Nobles Hospital | Information not held |
| The requester asked for patient admission statistics for six specific medical categories from 2010 to July 2021. 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. | ||
| 2021-07-19 | Vaccines | Information not held |
| The requester asked for vaccination percentages by age and vulnerability brackets, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated the specific data was not held. Instead, the authority directed the requester to a public dashboard and provided formulas to calculate the percentages themselves. | ||
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