Manx Care
483 FOI requests | Full disclosure rate: 49.5%
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-09-01 | Covid related | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked Manx Care about the isolation and purification of SARS-CoV-2, laboratory methods, and PCR testing costs. Manx Care clarified that they extract RNA for detection rather than isolate the virus, directed the requester to existing public information for lab methods, and disclosed specific spending figures for PCR tests. | ||
| 2021-08-31 | Brain Tumour Incidences on Isle of Man - identifying future resources | All information sent |
| Naseem's Manx Brain Tumour Charity requested data on primary brain tumour diagnoses and demographics for Isle of Man residents over the last 10 years. Manx Care disclosed that there were 257 discharges with relevant clinical codes between September 2011 and August 2021, providing a breakdown by year and area. | ||
| 2021-08-31 | Ambulance callouts | All information sent |
| A request was made to Manx Care for ambulance callout statistics and reasons from August 2015 to August 2021, and the authority confirmed that all requested information was sent. | ||
| 2021-08-30 | Remdesivir prescription levels | Some information sent but not all held |
| 2021-08-30 | Test for Covid Variants | All information sent |
| The requester asked Manx Care to explain the method used to differentiate SARS-CoV-2 variants from standard positive tests. Manx Care responded by providing a link to the specific RT-PCR kit documentation and noting that further testing is sent to Public Health England. | ||
| 2021-08-16 | Morphine and Midazolam | All information sent |
| The request sought monthly prescription statistics for Midazolam and Morphine from 2010 to 2021, along with COVID-19 treatment protocols. The authority disclosed all requested information, providing detailed monthly dispensing data for various Midazolam formulations. | ||
| 2021-08-10 | Procurement of Supplies for PCR Tests | All information sent |
| A request was made to Manx Care to identify the companies supplying materials for on-island PCR testing. The authority disclosed the names and websites of three specific suppliers for swabs, lateral flow devices, and plastics. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-08-09 | Differentiation of variants | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked Manx Care for details on SARS-CoV-2 variant differentiation processes and non-PCR virus isolates. Manx Care refused to provide the information, stating they do not hold the requested data and do not perform virus isolation. | ||
| 2021-08-06 | Children hospitalised re: covid | All information sent |
| A request was made to Manx Care for statistics on children under 16 hospitalized with COVID-19 in July 2021, including attendance numbers, admissions, length of stay, and percentages relative to total cases. The authority disclosed all requested information, confirming 6 emergency attendances and 4 admissions with an average stay of 2.5 days. | ||
| 2021-08-02 | Stroke admissions | All information sent |
| The requester asked for monthly statistics on stroke and heart attack admissions at Noble's Hospital from March 2019 to July 2021. Manx Care provided the data but noted that 2020 figures may be lower due to a backlog of uncoded clinical episodes. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-07-20 | Covid related | Some information sent but part exempt |
| A request was made to Manx Care for specific data on vaccination status of active cases, hospital admissions, and deaths, as well as technical details on virus purification and test swab sterilization. The authority partially refused the request, citing practical refusal reasons for data that would require new programming, lack of information held for sterilization chemicals, and public availability for general vaccine questions. | ||
| 2021-07-14 | Hospital admissions | All information sent |
| 2021-06-30 | PCR threshold cycle | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked for the current and historical PCR threshold cycle (CT) values used by Manx Care since March 2020. The authority responded that the information is already reasonably accessible on the government website, stating the CT setting is 40 and has not changed. | ||
| 2021-06-28 | Pcr and death certs | Some information sent but part exempt |
| The requester asked for PCR CT settings history and the average age of death for COVID-19 cases on the Isle of Man. Manx Care directed the requester to a public website for the PCR settings but refused the death certificate data, stating they do not hold such records. | ||
| 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 | Abortion service usage | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 2021-06-23 | PCR manufacturer instructions | Some information sent but part exempt |
| 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. | ||
| 2021-06-22 | Covid and PCR | Some information sent but not all held |
| Manx Care provided hospitalization and death statistics for influenza and pneumonia from 2010 to 2021, along with PCR CT level information, but refused requests for specific death certificate data and virus genome sequencing as they do not hold this information. | ||
| 2021-06-16 | PCR testing | No information sent - all held but exempt |
| The requester asked Manx Care for the specific Cycle Threshold (CT) value used for PCR testing on the Isle of Man. The authority refused to provide the information directly, citing that it was already reasonably accessible via their public FOI disclosure log. | ||
| 2021-06-10 | Brain Haemorrhage Data | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for detailed statistics on brain haemorrhage and aneurysm admissions at Noble's Hospital over five years, including demographics, transfers to the Walton Centre, and mortality rates. Manx Care provided total admission numbers for 2016-2020 but refused requests for demographic breakdowns, population ratios, and Walton Centre data, citing that the information was not held. | ||
| 2021-06-02 | Plastic use in Nobles canteen | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for a five-year monthly breakdown of plastic cutlery usage and costs at Nobles canteen, but Manx Care refused the request citing the substantial compilation exemption. Instead, the authority disclosed that they have been purchasing wooden or biodegradable 'vegware' cutlery for the last three years to comply with the Single Use Plastics Reduction Plan. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 2021-06-02 | Nobles discharges | All information sent |
| The requester asked for patient discharge statistics for specific dates in May 2021, a copy of the Hospital Discharge Policy, and details on recent audits. Manx Care provided the discharge figures, the current policy documents, and confirmed that no audits regarding discharge adherence were conducted in the specified 12-month period. | ||
| 2021-05-27 | hospital admissions due to COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) vaccination | Not required to fulfill request |
| The requester asked for the number of hospital admissions attributed to adverse effects of COVID-19 vaccination in 2020 and 2021. Manx Care stated they were not required to compile data for the full period but disclosed that 4 admissions were coded as such from April 1, 2021, onwards. | ||
| 2021-05-27 | deaths secondary to vaccination for COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) | Not required to fulfill request |
| A request was made to Manx Care for statistics on deaths secondary to COVID-19 vaccination in 2020 and 2021. The authority refused to fulfill the request, citing that the information did not exist in a pre-existing format and would require creation. | ||
| 2021-05-19 | Money spent on practice nurse training | All information sent |
| A request was made to Manx Care for details on spending for practice nurse training over the last five years and whether it was individual or generic. The authority disclosed the specific amounts spent annually from 2016-17 to 2020-21 along with the nature of the training provided. | ||
| 2021-05-10 | ManxCare is an unaccountable quango | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for all advertising expenditure records (authorisations, budgets, invoices, payments) for Manx Care from January 1, 2021. Manx Care disclosed the 2021-22 advertising budget and specific expenditure for April 2021 but refused to provide copies of authorisations, invoices, and payments citing a practical refusal under Section 11(3)(a) of the Act. | ||
| 2021-05-07 | Urgent referrals to breast clinic | All information sent |
| The requester asked for monthly statistics on urgent breast clinic referrals and average waiting times for the 12 months prior to May 2021. Manx Care disclosed the complete dataset covering May 2020 to April 2021, including a total of 232 referrals and an overall average wait time of 26 days. | ||
| 2021-05-06 | cortisol tests | Some information sent but not all held |
| The requester asked for monthly cortisol test statistics from 2015 to 2020 and details on testing policy development. Manx Care provided the requested test data but stated they do not hold a local policy, instead following UK advice. | ||