Cancer rates
| Authority | Manx Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2021-12-01 |
| Outcome | Some information sent but not all held |
| Outcome date | 2021-12-30 |
| Case ID | 2123453 |
Summary
A request for cancer admission, diagnosis, and breast clinic scan data was partially fulfilled by Manx Care, which provided revised admission figures and scan counts but refused to provide total diagnosis numbers as the data was not held.
Key Facts
- Manx Care provided monthly hospital admission data for cancer from 2019 to 2021, excluding Oncology Day Unit and Endoscopy to ensure consistency.
- The authority refused to provide total annual cancer diagnoses from 2017-2021 because they do not hold all the data and creating it would violate the Act.
- Requesters were advised to contact the Cabinet Office for Cancer Incidence Reports which use 3-year rolling averages.
- Breast clinic data provided represents US/MG exams performed rather than appointment numbers, covering the period from January 2019 to December 2021.
- A significant increase in reported activity in April 2021 was attributed to changes in coding methodology.
Data Disclosed
- 2019-2021
- 2017-2021
- 382
- 72
- 481
- 937
- 2,018
- 7,226
- 01.01.19
- 23.12.21
- 1st April 2021
- 2021-12-01
- 2021-12-30
- 11 January 2022
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 (requirement to create or derive information)
Original Request
1. Could you please provide the monthly number of admissions to hospital for any form of cancer for 2019-2021. 2. What is the total number of patients diagnosed with cancer each year from 2017-2021. 3. What is the monthly number of appointments for scans at the breast clinic from 2019-2021.
Data Tables (2)
| No. of Admissions 2019 2020 2021 | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32 | 8 | 40 | |
| Feb 40 14 4 | 58 | |||
| Mar | 40 | 5 | 18 | 63 |
| Apr 43 12 57 | 112 | |||
| May | 52 | 53 | 105 | |
| Jun 38 3 65 | 106 | |||
| Jul | 34 | 11 | 52 | 97 |
| Aug 26 7 68 | 101 | |||
| Sep | 14 | 3 | 46 | 63 |
| Oct 20 5 43 | 68 | |||
| Nov | 16 | 54 | 70 | |
| Dec 27 4 21 | 54 | |||
| Total 382 72 481 | 937 |
| Breast Assessment Breast Outpatient |
|---|
| 2,018 7,226 |
Full Response Text
Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000
Our ref: 2123453 11 January 2022
Dear ###
We write further to your request which was received on1st December 2021 and states:
"1. Could you please provide the monthly number of admissions to hospital for any form of cancer for 2019-2021. 2. What is the total number of patients diagnosed with cancer each year from 2017-2021. 3. What is the monthly number of appointments for scans at the breast clinic from 2019- 2021."
Our Response 1. Could you please provide the monthly number of admissions to hospital for any form of cancer for 2019-2021. The information below has been revised to exclude the Oncology Day Unit and Endoscopy. Activity in these areas is planned and repeated and therefore may not provide a true picture of admissions. The significant increase in activity reported from April 2021, is due to changes in the coding methodology introduced from 1st April 2021, which saw coding expanded to several new points of delivery, including Oncology Day Unit. The April 2021 onwards figures have been amended to match the methodology used for the previous data extract. The table below which details discharge episodes that have been coded where the PRIMARY Diagnosis includes any of the following clinical codes (established from clinical coding department)
- What is the total number of patients diagnosed with cancer each year from 2017-2021. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested. Complying with the request for information would require Manx Care 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), in this instance, it would require us to create or derive information from information that we hold. Manx Care do not hold all the data relating to cancer diagnoses. However you may wish to re-submit your request to the Cabinet Office who collate the Cancer Incidence Report – this is split by gender and then 3-year rolling averages are used to avoid small number issues i.e. discoverability and annual fluctuations typical of a small population.
- What is the monthly number of appointments for scans at the breast clinic from 2019- 2021 These numbers identify US/MG exams performed on patients from either the Breast Assessment or Breast Outpatient (source attached) between 01.01.19 and 23.12.21. This does not identify the number of patients or distinguish between new or recall. Our radiology team elected to provide these figures rather than number of appointments as appointments do not identify the number of scans. However we can revisit this request for the number of appointments if you are not satisfied with this response. Please quote the reference number 2123453 in any future communications.
No. of Admissions 2019 2020 2021 Total Jan 32 8 40 Feb 40 14 4 58 Mar 40 5 18 63 Apr 43 12 57 112 May 52 53 105 Jun 38 3 65 106 Jul 34 11 52 97 Aug 26 7 68 101 Sep 14 3 46 63 Oct 20 5 43 68 Nov 16 54 70 Dec 27 4 21 54 Total 382 72 481 937 Breast Assessment Breast Outpatient 2,018 7,226
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