Covid-19 cancellations

Original Request

Please can you confirm the following: 1) How many urgent operations have been cancelled both here and at UK hospitals since the start of the pandemic 2) How many operations have been postponed since the start of the pandemic 3) Can you reference the cancellations and postponements back to the numbers over the same period for the previous 5 years. 4) Can you confirm the numbers for those reporting mental health issues for the 1st time, since the start of the pandemic. Again whilst referencing the last 5 years.

Data Tables (2)

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: 1554277 4th December 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 10th November 2020 and states:

"Please can you confirm the following: Question 1. How many urgent operations have been cancelled both here and at UK hospitals since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic? Question 2. How many operations have been postponed since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic? Question 3. Can you reference the cancellations and postponements back to the numbers over the same period for the previous 5 years? Question 4. Can you confirm the numbers for those reporting mental health issues for the first time, since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic? Again whilst referencing the last 5 years.” Our response: Questions 1 – 3: Question 1. How many urgent operations have been cancelled both here and at UK hospitals since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic?

Question 2. How many operations have been postponed since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic? Question 3. Can you reference the cancellations and postponements back to the numbers over the same period for the previous 5 years?

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. 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 hold the information in the format requested and the Department does not have access to data for the UK hospitals. In order to provide advice and assistance we have attached a table of the TCI (to come in) offers made to patients for procedures (which include those in theatres and endoscopy). TCI Waiting list outcomes * Between 1st March 2020 (start of COVID 19 pandemic) and 27th November 2020 Total Patient admitted - treatment completed Hospital Cancellation Patient Cancellation Other Outcome ** 2020 * 5368 3237 1366 633 132 2019 8392 5681 1253 1305 153 2018 8957 6141 1212 1452 152 2017 8065 5458 1268 1221 118 2016 7654 5267 1009 1214 164 2015 7737 4982 1286 1336 133 ** Please note there are a number of other recorded TCI outcomes which could not be classified as either patient admitted - treatment completed, hospital cancellation or patient cancellation. For example: • dates offered to the patient but neither accepted or cancelled; • patient admitted - treatment deferred or new operation and planned episode required.

Question 4. Can you confirm the numbers for those reporting mental health issues for the first time, since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic? Again whilst referencing the last 5 years. 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. 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. Mental Health Service scorecards were introduced in April 2017 for new patient referrals to the service. The table below lists those referrals however it is not possible to differentiate between first time or repeat patient referrals with these figures. Prior to April 2017 the Department had a different reporting system and would involve the Department having to derive information from information that it holds to obtain these figures. Under Section Act S11(3)(b) of the Act it is not required to do so. 2017 Numbers 2018 Numbers 2019 Numbers 2019 Numbers Apr-17 May-17 Jun-17 Jul-17 Aug-17 Sep-17 Oct-17 Nov-17 Dec-17 Jan-18 Feb-18 Mar-18 573 518 496 505 506 534 509 728 608 525 626 629 Apr-18 May-18 Jun-18 Jul-18 Aug-18 Sep-18 Oct-18 Nov-18 Dec-18 Jan-19 Feb-19 Mar-19 616 681 712 772 727 613 685 680 631 655 631 738 Apr-19 May-19 Jun-19 Jul-19 Aug-19 Sep-19 Oct-19 Nov-19 Dec-19 Jan-20 Feb-20 Mar-20 601 727 660 750 662 683 821 685 658 774 701 607 Apr-20 May-20 Jun-20 Jul-20 Aug-20 Sep-20 Oct-20 404 473 590 857 700 611 615 Please quote the reference number 1554277 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely