Number of births during Covid19

Summary

The request sought data on births during COVID-19 restrictions and trends in postnatal depression; the authority disclosed the number of births but refused the depression data as it was not held in a reportable format.

Key Facts

• 214 births occurred at the Jane Crookall ward between 16 March 2020 and 30 June 2020.
• During this period, partners were only permitted to visit when the woman was in active labour.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not have reporting mechanisms to extrapolate postnatal depression figures.
• Community midwives reported no awareness of a significant increase in postnatal depression numbers during the pandemic.
• The request was partially fulfilled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

Data Disclosed

• 214
• 16th March 2020
• 30th June 2020
• 1519594
• 2020-10-19
• 2020-11-10

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information not held)
• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (no requirement to create or derive information)

Original Request

Question 1: How many women gave birth while the Jane Crookall ward was under Covid19 restrictions? Question 2: Has there been an increase in post natal depression figures since the Covid19 restrictions lockdown measures were brought in?

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: 1519594 10th November 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 19th October 2020 and states:

Number of births during Covid19 Question 1: How many women gave birth while the Jane Crookall ward was under Covid19 restrictions? Question 2: Has there been an increase in post natal depression figures since the Covid19 restrictions lockdown measures were brought in? Our response: Question 1: How many women gave birth while the Jane Crookall ward was under Covid19 restrictions? Between the 16th March 2020 and the 30th June 2020 there were 214 births. These dates are the week before the Department introduced restricted visiting to the ward up until visiting was permitted by partners again. During this period partners were only permitted to be there when the woman was in active labour. Question 2: Has there been an increase in post natal depression figures since the Covid19 restrictions lockdown measures were brought in? 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. Complying with the request for information would require the public authority to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8(3) (things a public authority is not required to do by the Act S11(3)(b). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for

information would require us to create or derive information from information that we hold. The Department does not have reporting mechanisms in place to extrapolate this information in relation to post natal depression. The Head of Midwifery has also confirmed that her community midwives, are not aware of any significant increase in numbers during the time they have/had contact with new mothers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Please quote the reference number 1519594 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely