FOI request for 2020 Data for Notifiable Diseases

Summary

A request was made for anonymised statistics on notifiable infectious diseases on the Isle of Man from 2015 to January 2021, specifically asking for COVID-19 to be segregated from other SARS cases. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request stating they do not hold the information, noting it is held by the Cabinet Office instead.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2021-01-11 and the outcome was issued on 2021-01-28.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the requested statistics.
• The information is held by Public Health within the Cabinet Office.
• The request covered data from 2015 to January 2021.
• The requester specifically asked for COVID-19 to be segregated from other forms of SARS.

Data Disclosed

• 2021-01-11
• 2021-01-28
• 2015
• January 2021
• 1624600
• Section 11(3)a

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held)

Original Request

Under the Public Health Act 1990 it is a statutory requirement for health practitioners/clinicians suspecting any infectious disease to notify the Public Health Directorate. This data is freely published in the UK so there are no Data Protection ground to deny my request for the anonymised data. As SARS is a notifiable disease and Coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2 then I fully expect the notifications of COVID-19 to be included in the statistics and it would be advisable to position these notifications in a category of their own. Clarification sought: In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, it would be helpful if you could be more specific, please can you clarify what your question(s) is regarding the statistics? Clarification received: Please provide statistics broken down by year and disease for the years 2015- January 2021 to include all notified infectious diseases on the Isle of Man. Please segregate COVID-19 from other forms of SARS and include them in the statistics.

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

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

Our ref: 1624600 21st January 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 11th January 2021 and states:

“Under the Public Health Act 1990 it is a statutory requirement for health practitioners/clinicians suspecting any infectious disease to notify the Public Health Directorate. This data is freely published in the UK so there are no Data Protection ground to deny my request for the anonymised data. As SARS is a notifiable disease and Coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2 then I fully expect the notifications of COVID-19 to be included in the statistics and it would be advisable to position these notifications in a category of their own. Clarification sought: In order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for we need some further information from you. In particular, it would be helpful if you could be more specific, please can you clarify what your question(s) is regarding the statistics? Clarification received: Please provide statistics broken down by year and disease for the years 2015- January 2021 to include all notified infectious diseases on the Isle of Man. Please segregate COVID-19 from other forms of SARS and include them in the statistics.”

Our Response: While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that 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. However you may wish to re-submit your request to Public Health within the Cabinet Office who may be able to help you. The information you have requested is held by the Cabinet Office. Please quote the reference number 1624600 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