Mental Health Act
| Authority | Department of Health and Social Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2017-02-01 |
| Outcome | All information sent |
| Outcome date | 2017-02-28 |
| Case ID | 355135 |
Summary
A Freedom of Information request to the Isle of Man Department of Health and Social Care sought data on mental health patient suicides and complaint statistics. The authority disclosed annual suicide figures for patients and inpatients from 2012 to 2016, provided complaint data from 2011 to 2017, and noted that two legal questions were withdrawn by the requester.
Key Facts
- Seven mental health patients under care committed suicide between 2012 and 2016 according to coroner records.
- Two mental health inpatients committed suicide during the same period.
- Questions regarding the legal admissibility of Barring Orders as witness evidence were withdrawn by the requester.
- Complaint data is available from 2011 to 2017, but outcomes favoring specific parties are not recorded.
- Complaint recording procedures were standardized within the Mental Health Service following a review in 2012.
Data Disclosed
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2011
- 7
- 2
- 1
- 0
- 27th February 2017
- 1st Feb 2017
- 1st January 2011
- 1st January 2017
Data Tables (11)
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Patient Deaths Recorded as Suicide | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Patient Deaths Recorded as Suicide | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Year | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 1 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Family Member |
| 1 | Attitude of Staff | Family Member |
| 2 | Total |
| Year | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 6 | Attitude of Staff | Patient |
| 1 | Attitude of Staff | Family Member |
| 2 | Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) | Patient |
| 3 | Clinical Treatment | Family Member |
| 2 | Clinical Treatment | Other |
| 1 | Failure to Follow Procedures | Family Member |
| 1 | Patient Privacy & Dignity | Family Member |
| 16 | Total |
| Year | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 2 | Attitude of Staff | Family Member |
| 7 | Clinical Treatment | Patient |
| 14 | Clinical Treatment | Family Member |
| 2 | Clinical Treatment | Other |
| 1 | Transport | Patient |
| 1 | Admission Transfer and Discharge Arrangements | Family Member |
| 1 | Attitude of Staff | Patient |
| 1 | Attitude of Staff | Other |
| 1 | Complaints Handling | Patient |
| 1 | Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) | Other |
| 1 | Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) | Family Member |
| 1 | Other | Patient |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Total |
| Year | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 12 | Clinical Treatment | Patient |
| 10 | Clinical Treatment | Family Member |
| 1 | Clinical Treatment | Other |
| 1 | Accommodation | Other |
| 1 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Family Member |
| 1 | Other | Family Member |
| 1 | Other | Patient |
| 27 | Total |
| Year | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 1 | Clinical Treatment | Other |
| 1 | Policy and Commercial Decisions | Family Member |
| 2 | Appointments Delay/Cancellation Outpatient | Family Member |
| 2 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Patient |
| 3 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Family Member |
| 1 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Other |
| 7 | Clinical Treatment | Family Member |
| 3 | Clinical Treatment | Patient |
| 1 | Attitude of Staff | Other |
| 1 | Other | Family Member |
| 22 | Total |
| Year | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 2 | Admission Transfer and Discharge arrangements | Family Member |
| 1 | Appointments delay/cancellation outpatient | Family Member |
| 2 | Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) | Family Member |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Other | Family Member |
| 3 | Other | Patient |
| 4 | Other | Other |
| 3 | Clinical Treatment | Patient |
| 10 | Clinical Treatment | Family Member |
| 2 | Clinical Treatment | Other |
| 31 | Total |
| Year | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Complaints | Reason | Complainant |
| 1 | Other | Family Member |
| 1 | Total |
Full Response Text
Department of Health and Social Care
Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay
Page 1 of 6 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01
STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
By Email:
Dear
REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request to the Department of Health and Social Care, dated 1st Feb 2017. Your request You asked for: Question 01: “How many mental health patients under your care committed suicide by year from 2012 to 2016?” Question 02: “How many mental health inpatients in your care committed suicide by year from 2012 to 2016?” Question 03: “Can a Responsible Clinician's Barring Order of a Nearest Relative from detention become prima facie witness evidence to support and substantiate an alleged crime?” Question 04: “Is it permissible for a Responsible Clinician in a Barring Order of Nearest Relative discharging a patient to refer to the Nearest Relative as having been arrested [without charge] and subsequently been bailed [without supervision order]as part of the Barring Order?” Question 05: “How many complaints have been submitted to Mental Health broken down annually from 2011 to Jan 1st 2017, to include type off complainant (staff, patient etc.), type of complaint (malpractice, management, service etc.) and resolved in favour of the complainant or Mental Health Service”
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: 27th February 2017
FOI Reference: IM76-500i
Page 2 of 6 FOIA/DHSC/12 Response to your request We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to your questions: Question 01: How many mental health patients under your care committed suicide by year from 2012 to 2016? In response to Question 01, the Department identified that of the inquests that have been held and that the Mental Health Service (MHS) is aware of, there have been seven patients whose deaths were recorded as suicide by the Coroner of Inquests, broken down by year as requested: Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Number of Patient Deaths Recorded as Suicide 2 1 2 1 1
Question 02: How many mental health in-patients in your care committed suicide by year from 2012 to 2016? In response to Question 02, the Department identified that of the inquests held into two deaths of MHS in-patients, both were recorded as suicide as deemed by the Coroner of Inquest, broken down by year as requested: Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Number of Patient Deaths Recorded as Suicide 1 0 1 0 0
Question 03: Can a Responsible Clinician's Barring Order of a Nearest Relative from detention become prima facie witness evidence to support and substantiate an alleged crime?
This question was subsequently withdrawn by you. Question 04: Is it permissible for a Responsible Clinician in a Barring Order of Nearest Relative discharging a patient to refer to the Nearest Relative as having been arrested [without charge] and subsequently been bailed [without supervision order]as part of the Barring Order?
This question was subsequently withdrawn by you. Question 05: How many complaints have been submitted to Mental Health broken down annually from 2011 to Jan 1st 2017, to include type off complainant (staff, patient etc.), type of complaint (malpractice, management, service etc.) and resolved in favour of the complainant or Mental Health Service In response to Question 05, the Department provides the table in Appendix 01, detailing the number of complaints submitted to MHS between 1st January 2011 - 1st January 2017, including source and type of complaint. It is not currently recorded whether the outcome of the complaint was resolved in favour of either party. Please note that prior to 2012, complaints were recorded centrally within the Department of Health and Social Security; since a review in 2012, during which the way in which complaints (submitted in accordance with the formal complaints procedure) were recorded, was reviewed and standardised within the Mental Health Service.
Page 3 of 6
FOIA/DHSC/12
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 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 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:
- Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or
- 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: 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
Page 4 of 6 FOIA/DHSC/12 Appendix 01: Mental Health Service Complaints 2011-2017
Year 2011
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 1 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Family Member 1 Attitude of Staff Family Member 2 Total
Year 2012
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 6 Attitude of Staff Patient 1 Attitude of Staff Family Member 2 Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) Patient 3 Clinical Treatment Family Member 2 Clinical Treatment Other 1 Failure to Follow Procedures Family Member 1 Patient Privacy & Dignity Family Member 16 Total
Year 2013
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 2 Attitude of Staff Family Member 7 Clinical Treatment Patient 14 Clinical Treatment Family Member 2 Clinical Treatment Other 1 Transport Patient 1 Admission Transfer and Discharge Arrangements Family Member 1 Attitude of Staff Patient 1 Attitude of Staff Other 1 Complaints Handling Patient 1 Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) Other 1 Personal Records (including medical and/or complaint) Family Member
Page 5 of 6 FOIA/DHSC/12 1 Other Patient 33 Total
Year 2014
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 12 Clinical Treatment Patient 10 Clinical Treatment Family Member 1 Clinical Treatment Other 1 Accommodation Other 1 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Family Member 1 Other Family Member 1 Other Patient 27 Total
Year 2015
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 1 Clinical Treatment Other 1 Policy and Commercial Decisions Family Member 2 Appointments Delay/Cancellation Outpatient Family Member 2 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Patient 3 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Family Member 1 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Other 7 Clinical Treatment Family Member 3 Clinical Treatment Patient 1 Attitude of Staff Other 1 Other Family Member 22 Total
Year 2016
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 2 Admission Transfer and Discharge arrangements Family Member 1 Appointments delay/cancellation outpatient Family Member
Page 6 of 6 FOIA/DHSC/12 2 Communication/Information to Patient (written and oral) Family Member 4 Other Family Member 3 Other Patient 4 Other Other 3 Clinical Treatment Patient 10 Clinical Treatment Family Member 2 Clinical Treatment Other 31 Total
Year 2017
Number of Complaints Reason Complainant 1 Other Family Member 1 Total