Waiting times and targets

Summary

The requester sought detailed waiting times and targets for seven specific medical departments at Manx Care, including a comparison report from May 2021. Manx Care provided a waiting times report for May 2021 and 2022 but refused to provide a separate breakdown for cataract treatment, citing the inability to derive the data from existing digital records.

Key Facts

• The request was received on 2022-05-16 and officially lapsed on 2022-05-20.
• Manx Care provided a document titled 'Waiting Times.pdf' containing data for 25 May 2021 and 25 May 2022.
• Information regarding cataract treatment as a separate line item was withheld.
• The authority stated that complying with the cataract request would require creating or deriving information not held digitally.
• The request was an update to a previous FOI (2036441) regarding waiting lists at Nobles Hospital.

Data Disclosed

• 2022-05-16
• 2022-05-20
• 25 May 2021
• 25 May 2022
• 2447659
• 2036441
• 47 days
• 241 days
• 272 days
• 311 days
• 123 days
• 488 days
• 485 days
• 417 days
• 273 days
• 188 days
• 64 days
• 79 days
• 373 days
• 327 days
• 66 days
• 138 days
• 729 days
• 133 days

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 (creating or deriving information)

Original Request

Waiting time for first consultation and follow up treatment, investigations or operations in these departments with particular attention to specifics listed. Also target times: 1. Cardiology - numbers treated onsite. Numbers waiting for consultation. Number waiting for operation. 2. Haematology (under pathology?) - investigation and treatment. 3. Oncology - all areas but including breast cancer. 4. Gastroenterology - with regards to colonoscopy, endoscopy and follow up. 5. Orthopaedics - specifically with regard to hip and knee replacements, carried out onsite and in the UK. Number outstanding please. 6. Opthalmology - specifically with regard to cataract operations. Number of outstanding operations please. 7. Urology - specifically with regard to prostate investigations and prostate treatments Following Clarification The request was discussed and an updated version to previous FOI 2036441 - Waiting Lists on waiting times at Nobles was agreed, with the addition of 1) cataract treatment as a separate line and 2) additionally the same report as at 25.05.21 for comparison

Data Tables (4)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 2447659 16 June 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 16th May 2022 which states:

"Waiting time for first consultation and follow up treatment, investigations or operations in these departments with particular attention to specifics listed. Also target times: 1. Cardiology - numbers treated onsite. Numbers waiting for consultation. Number waiting for operation. 2. Haematology (under pathology?) - investigation and treatment. 3. Oncology - all areas but including breast cancer. 4. Gastroenterology - with regards to colonoscopy, endoscopy and follow up. 5. Orthopaedics - specifically with regard to hip and knee replacements, carried out onsite and in the UK. Number outstanding please. 6. Opthalmology - specifically with regard to cataract operations. Number of outstanding operations please. 7. Urology - specifically with regard to prostate investigations and prostate treatments” Following Clarification The request was discussed and it was agreed to provide an updated version to previous FOI 2036441, “Waiting Lists” on waiting times at Nobles, with the addition of: “1) Waiting time for cataract treatment as a separate line and 2) Waiting time report as at 25.05.21 (in addition to the report as at 25.05.22) for comparison"

Our Response 1) Waiting time for cataract treatment as a separate line 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 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), in this instance, complying with your request for information would require us to create or derive information from information that we hold. Unfortunately the reason for referral is not recorded digitally in order to separate out specific pathways. 2) Waiting time report as at 25.05.21 (in addition to the report as at 25.05.22) for comparison"

Please see attached document, “Waiting Times.pdf”

Please quote the reference number 2447659 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.

FOI 2447659 - Waiting Times AVG time waiting for 1st appointment total (days) Specialty As at 25 May 2021 As at 25 May 2022 Adult Mental Illness - Anaesthetics 47 241 Breast Surgery 29 19 Cardiology 272 311 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 123 488 Clinical Physiology 485 417 Colorectal Surgery 273 188 Colposcopy 64 79 Critical Care Medicine 373 327 Dermatology 66 138 Diabetic Medicine 729 133 Dietetics 313 387 Endocrinology 725 321 ENT 448 554 Fertility 81 58 Gastroenterology 207 319 General Medical Practice General Medicine 93 191 General Surgery 101 184 Geriatric Medicine 19 384 Gynaecology 65 133 Haematology 1,061 312 Inherited Metabolic Medicine Service 2,454 214 Medical Oncology 0 - Nephrology 177 251 Neurology 454 166 Obstetrics 37 25 Old Age Psychiatry 326 - Ophthalmology 277 353 Oral Surgery 401 510 PAC - 27 Paediatric Audiology Medicine - - Paediatric Cardiology 30 - Paediatric Ear Nose and Throat 253 313 Paediatric Neurology 107 214 Paediatric Ophthalmology 281 109 Paediatric Trauma and Orthopaedics 68 80 Paediatrics 54 55 Pain Management 196 145 Physiotherapy 786 1,151 Plastic Surgery 73 89 Podiatry 761 1,126 This report reflects the continued challenges of delivering care alongside spikes in demand for acute services from patients with COVID-19 and also the impacts of this respiratory illness on the availability of staff and patients for their appointments. FOI 2447659 - Waiting Times Specialty As at 25 May 2021 As at 25 May 2022 Radiology 74 210 Respiratory Medicine (Thoracic Medicine) 212 226 Respiratory Physiology 482 103 Restorative Dentistry 445 810 Rheumatology 287 223 Stroke Medicine 119 Thoracic Surgery 130 175 Transient Ischaemic Attack - 195 Trauma & Orthopaedics 311 383 Unknown - Treatment mainly medical 78 443 Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery - - Urogynae 56 189 Urology 47 162 Vascular Surgery 90 126 Accident & Emergency - 156 Acute Internal Medicine - 127 Audiological Medicine - 1,105 Clinical Oncology - 345 Genitourinary Medicine 25 390 Paediatric General Surgery 20 54 Total 299 325 The following waiting lists have a 0 day wait, the patient administration system is being updated following validation of the waiting lists: An Access policy was drafted in 2021 with the aim of aligning systems and processes to those found in the UK healthcare system. The ultimate goal to prepare Manx Care for the active management of waiting lists to support the delivery of treatment with 18 weeks, commonly known as RTT (Referral to Treatment)