Covid and PCR

Summary

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.

Key Facts

• Manx Care does not sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes on the Isle of Man.
• The PCR CT level threshold has remained constant at 40 since March 2020.
• Death certificate data regarding cause of death is held by the General Registry, not Manx Care.
• Clinical coding data prior to March 2021 may be invalid due to unqualified staff and backlogs.
• Total influenza admissions from 2010 to 2021 were 155 with 4 deaths recorded in hospital discharge data.

Data Disclosed

• PCR CT Level: 40
• Influenza Admissions (2010-2021): 155
• Influenza Deaths (2010-2021): 4
• Pneumonia Admissions (2010-2021): 4806
• Pneumonia Deaths (2010-2021): 937
• Date received: 2021-06-22
• Outcome date: 2021-07-20
• Case ID: 1861725

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

Dear All, Pls provide the following information; How many influenza hospitalizations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? How many pneumonia hospitalisations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? Pls provide a monthly breakdown of the PCR CT level from March 2020 to June 2021? Pls provide the 'isolated' genome for sars cov-2 or the virus that causes covid, taken from one of the patients diagnosed with covid-19 on the island? This is not to include contaminated cells from kidney, liver or cancer cells and a singular isolated virus genome. Pls provide the number of deaths on the island that have 'covid-19' as the main cause of death on the death certificate? Pls provide the ages of those that died 'from' covid-19 on the island? This does not include 'with' covid-19 & not being the cause of death. Pls provide what guidance you were following as to the reasons you were setting and/or changing the PCR CT? Thank you.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 1861725 20th July 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 22nd June 2021 and which states:

"Dear All, Pls provide the following information; Q1 How many influenza hospitalizations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? Q2 How many pneumonia hospitalisations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? Q3 Pls provide a monthly breakdown of the PCR CT level from March 2020 to June 2021? Q4 Pls provide the 'isolated' genome for sars cov-2 or the virus that causes covid, taken from one of the patients diagnosed with covid-19 on the island? This is not to include contaminated cells from kidney, liver or cancer cells and a singular isolated virus genome. Q5 Pls provide the number of deaths on the island that have 'covid-19' as the main cause of death on the death certificate? Q6 Pls provide the ages of those that died 'from' covid-19 on the island? This does not include 'with' covid-19 & not being the cause of death. Q7 Pls provide what guidance you were following as to the reasons you were setting and/or changing the PCR CT? Thank you."

Our Response Q1 How many influenza hospitalizations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? Year Admissions Deaths 2010 2 0 2011 2 0 2012 0 0 2013 1 0 2014 3 0 2015 0 0 2016 8 0 2017 14 0 2018 89 4 2019 33 0 2020 1 0 2021 2 0 Total 155 4 Q2 How many pneumonia hospitalisations and deaths per year from 2010 to current year? Year Admissions Deaths 2010 357 78 2011 379 111 2012 352 91 2013 389 81 2014 389 99 2015 411 86 2016 560 80 2017 701 115 2018 716 116 2019 338 37 2020 69 15 2021 145 28 Total 4806 937 Q1 and Q2: In both influenza and pneumonia data above, the number of deaths refer to the discharge method of the patient from hospital, and the identified condition. However, this may not be the cause of death, which can only be determined from the death certificate which is not readily available to Manx Care. Please be aware that up until 31st March2021 clinical coding of finished consultant episodes within the Isle of Man Hospitals Directorate has been carried out by locally trained but unqualified clinical coding staff and as such the validity of the coded data that this query is derived from is unknown. There is also a considerable backlog of uncoded finished consultant episodes from 2019 and 2020 (and earlier) which could contribute to the lower numbers seen

in these results for these particular years. Manx Care is actively working to develop a sustainable, accurate and timely clinical coding function to address this situation. Q3 Pls provide a monthly breakdown of the PCR CT level from March 2020 to June 2021? The PCR CT Level is 40. This has not changed. Q4 Pls provide the 'isolated' genome for sars cov-2 or the virus that causes covid, taken from one of the patients diagnosed with covid-19 on the island? This is not to include contaminated cells from kidney, liver or cancer cells and a singular isolated virus genome. The Isle of Man does not sequence genomes. Q5 Pls provide the number of deaths on the island that have 'covid-19' as the main cause of death on the death certificate? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care 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. This information can only be determined from the death certificate, held by The General Registry, which is not readily available to Manx Care. However, you may wish to submit an FOI request to The Cabinet Office or General Registry. Q6 Pls provide the ages of those that died 'from' covid-19 on the island? This does not include 'with' covid-19 & not being the cause of death. This information can only be determined from the death certificate, held by The General Registry, which is not readily available to Manx Care. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care 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. This information can only be determined from the death certificate, held by The General Registry, which is not readily available to Manx Care. However, you may wish to submit an FOI request to The Cabinet Office or General Registry. Q7 Pls provide what guidance you were following as to the reasons you were setting and/or changing the PCR CT? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonable accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. All of the information that you have requests is available from the Government website covid19.gov.im/General guidance/testing & results: CT40 is in the instructions for use as provided by the manufacturer Please quote the reference number 1861725 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.