Manx Care
71 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 336.6%
The Freedom of Information requests to Manx Care reveal an authority grappling with the dual pressures of pandemic-era scrutiny and systemic data limitations. A dominant theme is the reliance on the 'information not held' exemption, particularly regarding mortality data. In over a dozen cases (e.g., 1812503, 1994741, 2210085), Manx Care consistently refused to provide death statistics or cause-of-death breakdowns, stating they do not hold death certificates and directing requesters to the General Registry. This creates a significant blind spot in public understanding of health outcomes, as the authority holds admission and treatment data but claims no access to the final mortality records. Similarly, requests regarding the scientific specifics of the pandemic response (virus isolation, PCR thresholds) were met with clarifications that Manx Care does not perform these advanced procedures, effectively outsourcing the scientific narrative to UK laboratories while refusing to generate new data on adverse events.
Key Cases
Case 1786213 — Highlights a significant transparency gap where Manx Care refused to provide advertising authorizations, invoices, and payments under a 'practical refusal' exemption, despite disclosing the budget. This suggests potential opacity in how public funds are authorized and spent on marketing.
Case 2175541 — Reveals the massive financial reliance on agency and bank workers, providing a clear picture of the cost of staffing shortages. The inability to differentiate between nurses and HCAs due to shared finance codes also exposes weaknesses in the authority's financial tracking systems.
Case 2371715 — Directly addresses patient safety and accountability by disclosing 'Duty of Candour' incidents. The revelation of 20 incidents, including one escalated to a formal complaint, provides concrete evidence of systemic failures and the authority's response to them.
Case 1873690 — A pivotal case in the pandemic narrative where Manx Care explicitly stated they do not perform virus isolation procedures. This clarifies the scope of their laboratory capabilities and counters claims that they are hiding evidence of virus isolation, while simultaneously admitting they do not hold the data requested by skeptics.
Case 2082778 — Clarifies the financial relationship with the UK government regarding vaccines. By confirming the Isle of Man paid nothing for the vaccines themselves (provided free by the UK), it shifts the focus of public spending inquiries to administration and distribution costs rather than procurement.
Related FOI Stories
The 'Not Held' Defense on Mortality and Death Data — #1812503, #1812501, #1941281, #1988313, #1994741
Virology, PCR Protocols, and Vaccine Skepticism — #1845993, #1861725, #1873689, #1873690, #1880753
Financial Transparency and Spending — #1786213, #1799406, #1820933, #1943113, #2007297
Hospital Performance, Waiting Lists, and Staffing — #1782317, #1821533, #1838029, #1931457, #1940485
Data Compilation and System Limitations — #1786213, #1812503, #1820933, #1915369, #1919333
| Date | Title | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-02-16 | David John Ashford Information Held | Information not held |
| A request was made to Manx Care for information regarding oaths, insurance, and payment entities for David John Ashford in his role as Health Minister. The authority responded that they do not hold the requested information and suggested contacting the Office of the Clerk of Tynwald instead. | ||
| 2022-02-15 | Alcohol and Drug Deaths 2010-2022 | Information not held |
| A request was made for monthly totals of alcohol and drug-related deaths in the Isle of Man from 2010 to 2022. Manx Care responded that the information is not held because they do not possess death certificates or cause of death data. | ||
| 2022-02-01 | Renumeration for Remdesivir | Information not held |
| The requester asked Manx Care about financial payments for prescribing Remdesivir and mortality statistics for patients receiving the drug. Manx Care confirmed no financial payments were made but refused to provide mortality data, citing that the information is not held. | ||
| 2022-01-24 | Request of the organisation and team structures of Adult social work | Information not held |
| The requester asked for the organizational team structure of the Adult Social Work service under Manx Care, excluding individual names. Manx Care responded that the information is not currently held, though an organizational chart is expected to be drafted shortly. | ||
| 2022-01-24 | Died OF covid Solely feb20-dec21 | Information not held |
| A request was made for statistics on deaths caused solely by COVID-19 between February 2020 and December 2021, broken down by age and gender. Manx Care responded that the information is not held and advised the requester to contact the General Registry. | ||
| 2022-01-24 | CoMorbidities | Information not held |
| The requester asked Manx Care for a chronological list of co-morbidities for individuals who died with COVID-19 as recorded on death certificates. Manx Care refused the request stating they do not hold this information and advised contacting the General Registry instead. | ||
| 2022-01-21 | CAMHS | Information not held |
| A request was made for CAMHS waiting list figures broken down by specific time durations, but Manx Care refused to provide the data because their clinical record system cannot generate the information in the requested format without creating new data. | ||
| 2021-12-09 | 2138109 Cancer Statistics 2010-2019 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for annual cancer incidence, mortality, prevalence, and survival statistics for the Isle of Man from 2010 to 2019, split by gender. The authority responded that the specific incidence data requested is not held, though they provided a mortality report containing total death figures and cancer-related statistics for 2018 and 2019. | ||
| 2021-12-01 | Covid statistics | Information not held |
| A request for detailed statistics on Covid-19 deaths, vaccination status, and vaccine adverse effects in the Isle of Man was submitted to Manx Care. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information, citing the lack of death registration data and the use of the UK's Yellow Card scheme for adverse event reporting. | ||
| 2021-11-03 | Full Covid-19 Vax Ingredients | Information not held |
| A request was made for the full ingredients list of COVID-19 vaccines used on the Isle of Man, but Manx Care refused to provide the information stating they do not hold it. | ||
| 2021-10-28 | Covid 19 Adverse Events | Information not held |
| The requester asked for detailed reports on Covid-19 vaccination adverse events and deaths in the Isle of Man, but Manx Care refused the request stating they do not hold this information separately. | ||
| 2021-10-14 | Is vaccine status private medical information? | Information not held |
| A requester asked Manx Care whether vaccine status is considered private medical information and if it is legal to require its disclosure. Manx Care responded that they do not hold the specific information requested and advised the requester to contact the Attorney General's Office instead. | ||
| 2021-09-24 | Pharmacy applications | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details of all pharmacy applications made on the Isle of Man in the last three years, but Manx Care responded that no such information is held because no formal applications were submitted during that period. | ||
| 2021-09-24 | Covid-19 Deaths | Information not held |
| The requester asked Manx Care for a breakdown of deaths 'by' versus 'with' Covid-19, but the authority refused the request stating they do not hold death certificates. | ||
| 2021-09-14 | clinical evidence for mask requirements | Information not held |
| The requester asked Manx Care for clinical studies and data used to justify mask requirements in healthcare settings. The authority responded that the specific information was not held, instead providing a link to UK-wide infection prevention and control guidance. | ||
| 2021-08-09 | Informed consent | Information not held |
| A request was made to Manx Care for the full nucleotide base sequences of approved COVID vaccines and data on spike protein biodistribution and toxicity. The authority responded that it does not hold this information and therefore could not disclose it. | ||
| 2021-07-22 | Covid Placebos | Information not held |
| The requester asked for details regarding COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, placebo usage, and the nature of the vaccination program on the Isle of Man. Manx Care responded that the information was not held because the Health Service did not participate in clinical trials and the program was not a trial, while directing the requester to public resources for general vaccination information. | ||
| 2021-07-22 | Sars-cov2 information supply? | Information not held |
| A request was made to Manx Care for details on the source, data, and method of obtaining SARS-CoV-2 genome information. Manx Care refused the request under Section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015, stating they do not hold the information as genomic sequencing is conducted by specialist laboratories in England. | ||
| 2021-06-28 | Isoated sars cov 2 | Information not held |
| The requester asked for records describing the isolation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly from symptomatic patients without genetic material contamination. Manx Care responded that the information is not held because they do not perform virus isolation procedures. | ||
| 2021-06-23 | Wildlife control | Information not held |
| A request was made for details on wildlife control methods, animal kill counts, and nest destruction at Manx Care premises since 2016. The authority responded that the information is not held and suggested contacting the Department of Infrastructure instead. | ||
| 2021-06-02 | OT Assessments | Information not held |
| A request was made to Manx Care for the Policy and Procedure regarding Occupational Therapy assessments in relation to hospital discharges. The authority responded that the information is not held and therefore could not be provided. | ||