underlying cause of death was Covid-19

Summary

The requester asked Manx Care for statistics on Covid-19 deaths, including underlying causes, pre-existing conditions, and ages of the deceased. Manx Care refused the request, stating they do not hold death certificates and would need to create new information by accessing individual health records.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 15 September 2021 and responded to on 12 October 2021.
• Manx Care stated they do not hold death certificates.
• Complying with the request would require creating or deriving information from existing records.
• The authority suggested the requester consult a separate FOI release from the Cabinet Office regarding death certifications.
• The requester was directed to Weekly Public Health Surveillance Reports for additional data.

Data Disclosed

• 48
• 15.09.21
• 12th October 2021
• 1994741
• 1919133

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (things a public authority is not required to do)
• Section 11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (requirement to create or derive information)

Original Request

Hi, To date (15.09.21) there are 48 covid deaths recorded in the Isle of Man. Please can you confirm how many of these deaths were when Covid-19 was considered the underlying cause of death. Can you please also confirm how many other pre-existing conditions each person who died from Covid-19 had and what these conditions were? Finally can you please provide the ages of all of the Covid deaths.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 1994741 12th October 2021

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request which was received on 15th September 2021 and which states:

"Hi, To date (15.09.21) there are 48 covid deaths recorded in the Isle of Man. Please can you confirm how many of these deaths were when Covid-19 was considered the underlying cause of death. Can you please also confirm how many other pre-existing conditions each person who died from Covid-19 had and what these conditions were? Finally can you please provide the ages of all of the Covid deaths."

Our Response 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. We do not hold death certificates and a response would require accessing the health records of the deceased for underlying health conditions. However, you may find another FOI released by the Cabinet Office helpful: follow the link https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information and input “Death Certifications” in the keywords tab to locate FOI 1919133. You may also find the Weekly Public Health Surveillance Reports useful and can be found at www.gov.im/cabinet-office/public-health/health-intelligence/covid-19-weekly-surveillance- report Please quote the reference number 1994741 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.