Secondary Cancer

Summary

A request was made for the number of Isle of Man residents with secondary cancer and details on medical responsibility; the authority disclosed care pathways but refused to provide statistics as the data is not routinely held.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold data on the number of people diagnosed with secondary cancer in the Isle of Man.
• Secondary cancer statistics are not routinely reported in the Isle of Man or the UK.
• The National Cancer Registration and Advisory Service (Public Health England) does not report on this specific dataset.
• Responsibility for new secondary cancer cases lies with specialist Multi-Disciplinary Teams.
• Treatment may be provided locally, at UK specialist centres like Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, or by Palliative Care teams.

Data Disclosed

• 3rd August 2020
• 24th August 2020
• 1401925
• section 11(3)a

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (practical refusal: information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

Question 1: How many people diagnosed with secondary cancer are resident in the Isle of Man as at the date of this request, 3rd August 2020? If information is readily available as to primary type underlying each secondary cancer, please break the figure down in this way, but if it is not, a global figure is requested. Question 2: Who has overall responsibility for the medical care of patients living with secondary cancer in the Isle of Man?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 1401925 24th August 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 3rd August 2020 and states:

Question 1: How many people diagnosed with secondary cancer are resident in the Isle of Man as at the date of this request, 3rd August 2020? If information is readily available as to primary type underlying each secondary cancer, please break the figure down in this way, but if it is not, a global figure is requested. Question 2: Who has overall responsibility for the medical care of patients living with secondary cancer in the Isle of Man?

Our response: Question 1: How many people diagnosed with secondary cancer are resident in the Isle of Man as at the date of this request, 3rd August 2020? If information is readily available as to primary type underlying each secondary cancer, please break the figure down in this way, but if it is not, a global figure is requested. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

Currently the number of people diagnosed with secondary cancer is not routinely reported on in the Isle of Man or in the UK. The National Cancer Registration and Advisory Service (Public Health England) do not report on this dataset.

Question 2: Who has overall responsibility for the medical care of patients living with secondary cancer in the Isle of Man? For those diagnosed with a new secondary cancer, the relevant specialist Multi- Disciplinary Team would advise on who is best to care for those who need treatment. Treatment can be received from the local Isle of Man team, a UK specialist centre including the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, or Palliative Care team. For those who have completed treatment, each follow-up pathway is based on National Health Service guidance. Some patients are on a stratified pathway and will be under the care of their General Practitioner. Please quote the reference number 1401925 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely