DASH

Summary

A student nurse requested information on the closure of the DASH service, alcohol screening statistics, and alcohol-related appointments and crime. The Department of Health and Social Care provided historical screening data for 2014-15 but withheld information on DASH's closure, GP appointments, and crime due to lack of data holding, while exempting A&E data pending future publication.

Key Facts

• DASH was a registered charity contracted by the Department, not an internal team, so the Department does not hold closure reasons.
• GP Practices are independent data controllers and not subject to Freedom of Information legislation.
• Alcohol-related A&E data is exempt under section 41 because an anonymised report is scheduled for future publication.
• The Department does not hold alcohol-related crime statistics as there is no business need to do so.
• Alcohol screening data provided covers the financial year 2014-15.

Data Disclosed

• 2017-01-30
• 2017-02-06
• 2014-15
• 2003
• 228
• 99
• 2
• 16
• 8
• 19
• 20

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held by the authority
• Section 41 (Information for future publication)
• GP Practices are not subject to Freedom of Information legislation

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 1 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/13

RE: Freedom of Information Act 2015 Thank you for your request dated 29 January 2017.
You asked for: I am a student nurse writing an assignment about service provision for a population group. My population group is harmful drinking (alcohol) Question 1. Can I please have a formal explanation of why Drug and Helpline Service (DASH) closed. Question 2. Can I also please find out the percentage of people on the Island who are screen for alcohol at a primary care level (teir 1) and the percentage of people who need brief interventions or signposting to additional services. Question 3. Can I also please find out how many alcohol related GP appointments are and alcohol related A&E appointments and alcohol related crime.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested; the reasons and statutory exemption sections are shown as part of the corresponding answers below.

Question 1. Can I please have a formal explanation of why Drug and Helpline Service (DASH) closed.

While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the information you request; DASH was a registered charity with a contract via the Department of Health and Social Care to provide a service rather than a team within the Department and therefore we are unable to answer your question. You may wish to contact the Charities Commission who may be able to assist.

Chief Executive Malcolm Couch

Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3QA

Direct Dial No: (01624) 656071 Email:

FOI.DHSC@gov.im
Website:
www.gov.im/dhss Date:

6th February 2017

FOI Reference: IM7588I

Page 2 of 3
FOIA/DHSC/13 Question 2. Can I also please find out the percentage of people on the Island who are screen for alcohol at a primary care level (teir 1) and the percentage of people who need brief interventions or signposting to additional services. There is no timescale for this information, the Department has therefore provided the most up to date information we hold which is for the financial year 2014-15 and is in tabular form below.

how many newly registered patients have had a short standard case finding test * how many screened positively and undertook fuller assessment how many were harmful/hazardous drinkers and have received brief intervention how many of the patients have been referred for specialist advice for dependent drinking 2003 228 99 2

• Practices are required to screen newly-registered patients aged 16 and over using either one of two shortened versions of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire: FAST or AUDIT-C. FAST has four questions and AUDIT-C has three questions, with each taking approximately one minute to complete. Patients with a positive score should be given the full screening test and offered brief advice for a score between eight and 19, or be considered for referral to specialist services for a score of 20 or more.

Question 3. Can I also please find out how many alcohol related GP appointments are and alcohol related A&E appointments and alcohol related crime
While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the information you requested and we are unable to answer the above point in relation to ‘how many alcohol related GP appointments’. The reason why we don’t hold the information is that GP Practices are their own data controller. You may wish to contact the GP Practice, however, please note that GP Practices are not subject to Freedom of Information legislation.
In relation to your question regarding ‘alcohol related A&E appointments’ while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because an exemption under section 41 (Information for future publication) of the Act applies to that information. The reasons why that exemption applies is that Public Health Directorate will be publishing an anonymised report in relation to alcohol related A&E appointments in the near future. In relation to your question regarding ‘alcohol related crime’, whilst it is the Department’s aim is to provide information whenever possible. However, in this instance, the information you have requested is not held by the Department of Health and Social Care for the purposes of the Act because there is no business need to hold information in relation to crime.

We suggest that as the Department of Home Affairs are subject to this Act, that you re- submit your request to that department via the on-line portal, this can be found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-ofinformation/ freedom-of-information-request-january-1-2017/

Page 3 of 3
FOIA/DHSC/13 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 to the FOI Co-ordinator, Department of Health & Social Care, Chief Executive’s Officer, Crookall House, Demesne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3QA. An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of- information/how-to-make-a-freedom-of-information-request/
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;
01. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or
02. 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.
Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at: https://www.inforights.im/information-centre/freedom-of- information. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours sincerely

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health and Social Care