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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2020-05-01 | Suicide rates 2020 | Information not held |
| A request was made for monthly suicide statistics for the first four months of 2020, but the Department of Health and Social Care responded that they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2020-05-01 | Mental Health Manannan Court Readmissions | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for data on Manannan Court readmissions in 2019, specifically asking for the number of individuals with three or more admissions split by age. The authority disclosed that out of 149 total admissions, 11 individuals aged 65 and under had three or more admissions, while no individuals over 65 met this criterion. | ||
| 2020-05-01 | Number of Island Residents using Patients Transfer. | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought statistics on patients transferred off the Isle of Man by air between February and April 2020, including those traveling for cancer treatment. The authority disclosed the total number of air transfers but refused to provide cancer-specific data due to the substantial compilation of information required. | ||
| 2020-04-29 | Local Maternity System lead query | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the structure and lead contacts for local maternity services in the Isle of Man. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the names and roles of the Head of Midwifery and several Lead Midwives, noting that the structure is currently under review. | ||
| 2020-04-08 | Doctors pay within public and private sector | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for a spreadsheet detailing the income of top-paid doctors and the number of doctors on each wage scale in both public and private sectors. The Department of Health and Social Care provided current public sector pay scales but refused to disclose the number of doctors on each scale, citing that creating this data would require deriving information not currently held. | ||
| 2020-03-30 | Deaths per annum | Information not held |
| A request was made for detailed annual death statistics on the Isle of Man, including breakdowns by month, location, age, and specific causes like flu and pneumonia. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that they do not hold this information and therefore could not disclose it. | ||
| 2020-03-25 | Diabetes technologies used | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care for statistics on diabetes technologies and patient registrations. The authority disclosed the specific number of adults and children using insulin pumps and the total count of Type 1 Diabetes patients registered with the Diabetes Centre and Paediatric Department. | ||
| 2020-03-23 | Deaths | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for monthly 2019 statistics on deaths from hospital-acquired pneumonia and seasonal respiratory viruses, as well as hospitalizations for flu-like symptoms. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the mortality data and are not required to create the hospitalization statistics. | ||
| 2020-03-16 | stress and anxiety related prescriptions national trend | Some information sent but not all held |
| The request sought patient prescription numbers for stress and anxiety medications by dose over five years and a comparison with other jurisdictions. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed aggregate item counts and costs for antidepressants, hypnotics, and proton pump inhibitors but refused to provide patient-specific data or international comparisons due to data limitations. | ||
| 2020-03-12 | Drug death and suicide rates | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for annual statistics on suicide, drug deaths, and alcohol-related deaths from 2014 to 2019, plus ICD-10 categorization details. The Department of Health and Social Care provided rolling 3-year rate statistics for the requested causes of death but stated they did not hold the specific ICD-10 scenario information. | ||
| 2020-02-28 | CAMHS & Adult Services | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for statistics on adolescents refused adult mental health services and the policies authorizing such refusals. The Department of Health and Social Care responded with an operational policy document but stated that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2020-02-24 | Western Wellbeing Partnership | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for patient numbers, cost breakdowns, complaint procedures, privacy assessments, and data sharing agreements regarding the Western Wellbeing Partnership. The authority disclosed a Data Sharing Agreement but indicated that not all requested information was held. | ||
| 2020-02-13 | Corona | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| A request was made for the number of coronavirus tests conducted on the Isle of Man since January 1, 2020. The Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the data directly, citing that the information was already reasonably accessible via their official website. | ||
| 2020-02-03 | Fostering | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for detailed financial data, placement statistics, and policy documents regarding fostering services from 2014 to 2020. The authority responded by sending all requested information, including 81 pages of documents and the full text of the 'Policy and Procedure for the Assessment and Approval of Foster Carers'. | ||
| 2020-01-30 | Numbers of patients & waiting times at General Practitioner (GP) practices. | All information sent |
| The Department of Health and Social Care responded to a request for data on GP practices by disclosing patient registration numbers, doctor headcounts, and average waiting times for routine appointments. | ||
| 2020-01-30 | National Health and Care Service Charter, cost cutting and complaints | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care regarding the National Health and Care Service Charter, Executive Leadership Team pay, and complaint statistics. The authority partially fulfilled the request by providing links to public performance documents but exempted specific data on targets, pay grades, and complaint outcomes due to the substantial compilation required. | ||
| 2020-01-20 | Cause of Death Statistics | All information sent |
| The requester asked for annual cause of death statistics for the Isle of Man from 2014 to 2019. The Department of Health and Social Care provided data for 2014 to 2018, noting that 2019 figures were unavailable due to annual coding processes. | ||
| 2020-01-17 | Accute Mental Health Unit patient admissions and bereavements | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for admission and mortality statistics for the Isle of Man's Acute Mental Health Units since 2014. The Department of Health and Social Care provided admission and death figures but refused to disclose data on terminally ill patients as it is not collated. | ||
| 2020-01-14 | R & I inspection reports | All information sent |
| The requester asked for inspection reports for 26 specific adult care homes on the Isle of Man, citing a discrepancy between the government website's promise of public availability and the actual access method. The Department of Health and Social Care responded by sending all requested information, including a sample unannounced inspection report for 17 Kensington Road. | ||
| 2020-01-09 | Isle of Man Ambulance Service vehicles road traffic collisions | All information sent |
| A request was made for the number of road traffic collisions involving Isle of Man Ambulance Service vehicles over the last five years, broken down by month. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that four such collisions occurred between 2018 and 2019. | ||
| 2020-01-06 | General Medical Council revalidation for doctors. | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The request sought the number of practicing doctors on the Isle of Man and reasons for those not revalidated within five years. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the total doctor count and the number of non-revalidated practitioners but withheld the specific reasons due to personal data exemptions. | ||
| 2019-12-19 | Hospital Referral Times | Request lapsed - requested information not provided |
| A request was made for waiting times at Noble's Hospital across 11 specialities for both routine and urgent pathways. The Department of Health and Social Care stated it does not hold data for General Surgery and Gastroenterology, but provided performance targets and referral counts for the remaining specialities. | ||
| 2019-12-11 | Maxillofacial surgeons | Upheld - full |
| A request was made for statistics on maxillofacial surgeons, waiting lists, and referral data for the oral surgery department, alongside policy details on general anaesthetics for children. The authority upheld the request fully, disclosing a 2008 UK National Clinical Guideline document regarding the use of general anaesthesia in paediatric dentistry. | ||
| 2019-12-11 | Community Dental Services | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made for detailed staffing, salary, financial, and patient data regarding the Isle of Man Community Dental Services, to which the Department of Health and Social Care responded with a job description for a Community Dental Officer while withholding specific financial and individual salary information. | ||
| 2019-12-09 | Nobles managers - numbers and wages | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the number of managers at Nobles Hospital and their wage statistics. The authority disclosed that there were 139 managers in Hospital Services as of December 2019, along with the highest, lowest, and average full-time wages. | ||
| 2019-12-08 | Vaccine damage payments | Information not held |
| The requester asked for statistics on vaccine damage payments made by the Isle of Man government since 2010, but the Department of Health and Social Care stated it does not hold this information. | ||
| 2019-12-05 | Cost of external investigators | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the costs of external investigators used for grievance, disciplinary, and fairness at work matters within the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority disclosed the total costs for the financial years 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19. | ||
| 2019-12-04 | Cost of a lunch at Nobles Hospital | Information not held |
| A request was made for the average cost of a patient lunch at Nobles Hospital, broken down by ingredients and cooking costs. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that the information is not held and could not be calculated. | ||
| 2019-12-04 | What loss was accumulated the private patient unit | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the financial deficit that led to the closure of the Private Patient Unit. The Department of Health and Social Care responded that no loss was accumulated and directed the requester to a government news release explaining the closure. | ||
| 2019-12-02 | Clinical Waste Security Seals | All information sent |
| The request sought details on the items, usage, procurement, and cost of clinical waste security seals used by the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority disclosed that cable ties are used, purchased via the NHS Supply Chain, with an annual usage of approximately 10,600 units costing £450. | ||
| 2019-11-27 | Clinic waiting times at Nobles Hospital | All information sent |
| The requester asked for the most recent average waiting list figures for all clinics at Noble's Hospital. The Department of Health and Social Care responded by stating the information is already reasonably accessible on their website and provided a direct link along with an attached copy of the data. | ||
| 2019-11-25 | Vehicles provided. | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the number of vehicles provided to disabled social service customers, but the authority responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2019-11-20 | Malpractice cases at Nobles | All information sent |
| A request was made for data on malpractice cases involving Nobles Hospital over the last three years, specifically regarding financial payouts and court settlements. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that no cases went to trial, while providing specific monetary amounts paid for out-of-court settlements across four time periods. | ||
| 2019-11-18 | Admin staff absences & nursing staff contracts | All information sent |
| The request sought data on administration staff sickness absences and the employment status of non-island resident nurses on fixed-term contracts within the Department of Health and Social Care. The authority disclosed that 18 admin staff were off sick as of November 2019 and confirmed that no non-island resident nurses were employed on fixed-term contracts. | ||
| 2019-11-11 | Vehicles provided by the DHSC. | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the number of motor vehicles provided to disabled customers, but the authority responded that the information is not held. | ||
| 2019-11-07 | Transfer of patients from Nobles Hospital to Ramsey Cottage Hospital | All information sent |
| The request sought data on patient transfers from Nobles Hospital to Ramsey Cottage Hospital and the procedures for obtaining patient consent. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that 268 patients were transferred in the specified period and confirmed that all patients are asked for consent, with care continuing at Nobles if they decline. | ||
| 2019-10-23 | Number of Residents Diagnosed with Crohns & Colitis | All information sent |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care for the number of Isle of Man residents diagnosed with Crohn's and Colitis under the care of Nobles Hospital as of September 30, 2019. The authority disclosed that 132 patients were being treated for Crohn's and 102 for Ulcerative Colitis. | ||
| 2019-10-17 | Drug and Alcohol Team | All information sent |
| The request sought funding figures for the Drug and Alcohol Team over five years and details on plans to improve the service. The authority disclosed the annual funding amounts and outlined a new Core Recovery Service based on a hub and spoke model. | ||
| 2019-10-15 | Dental Officer Procurement Procedure | Upheld - full |
| A requester sought details on the Dental Officer Procurement Procedure, including bidder names and selection team qualifications, which were largely withheld due to confidentiality. The authority upheld the request in full by releasing the anonymized Request for Quotation document and clarifying the procurement process. | ||
| 2019-10-07 | Quit smoking services - Quit4You | All information sent |
| A request was made for detailed statistics, budget figures, and policy documents regarding the Isle of Man's Quit4You smoking cessation service from 2011 onwards. The authority responded by sending all requested information, including 37 pages of documents covering service data and carbon monoxide safety procedures. | ||
| 2019-09-30 | White Hoe Adolescent Unit & Cronk Sollysh (secure unit) | All information sent |
| The Department of Health and Social Care responded to a request for incident statistics at the White Hoe Adolescent Unit and Cronk Sollysh secure unit covering 2015 to 2019. The authority disclosed all requested data regarding police calls, assaults, ambulance usage, and substance incidents for both facilities. | ||
| 2019-09-23 | Mental Health waiting list cancellations. | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for data on mental health appointment cancellations between October 2018 and September 2019 and the outcomes of previously rescheduled appointments. The Department of Health and Social Care provided detailed cancellation statistics but refused the request for rescheduling outcomes as that data is not collated. | ||
| 2019-09-16 | Nursing home costs | Information not held |
| A request was made for the annual cost of nursing home beds including capital and medication expenses, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information. | ||
| 2019-09-16 | History of falls in shops | Not upheld |
| A request was made for details of falls in shops since October 2011, including dates, locations, and injury types. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating they do not hold the information in an accessible manner. | ||
| 2019-09-16 | Disclosure Log - Mental Health Inquiry | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked about FOI publication practices and sought copies of mental health treatment plan templates following a recent inquiry. The authority responded by providing detailed Anxiety and Bipolar Affective Disorder pathway templates based on NICE guidelines, though the response text does not explicitly address the questions regarding publication policies. | ||
| 2019-08-27 | Service Operational Policies and Service Standards | All information sent |
| The request sought Isle of Man service standards for ambulance response times to 999 calls, and the Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the specific prioritization system and target arrival times for different call categories. | ||
| 2019-08-27 | Management of intoxicated patients with trauma | All information sent |
| The request sought policies for managing intoxicated trauma patients in the Ambulance Service and Emergency Department, specifically regarding pain relief and intoxication assessment. The response disclosed that paramedics follow JRCALC guidelines advising caution with opioids due to alcohol interaction, while the Emergency Department relies on clinical indications rather than specific intoxication protocols. | ||
| 2019-08-19 | Hospital beds | Some information sent but not all held |
| A request was made for details regarding the replacement of 265 hospital beds, including costs, reports, disposal, and staff expenses. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the purchase cost and disposal details but could not provide the recommendation report or staff costs as they were not held. | ||
| 2019-08-14 | Profit and Loss statement for nobes hospital staff canteen "Thie Bee" | All information sent |
| The requester asked for three years of internal accounts for the Nobles Hospital staff canteen 'Thie Bee', broken down by expenditure and revenue. The Department of Health and Social Care provided the financial figures but noted that direct year-on-year comparisons are difficult due to changes in accounting practices and the inclusion of shared costs with other facilities. | ||
| 2019-08-12 | Food | Information not held |
| A request was made to the Department of Health and Social Care regarding a daily meal allowance for patients at Noble's Hospital. The authority responded that no such monetary allowance exists, as dietary needs are managed individually rather than through a fixed per-patient budget. | ||
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