Travel costs off Island

Summary

The Department of Health and Social Care responded to a request for off-island healthcare costs and patient travel statistics for 2014-2017, providing full financial breakdowns and journey counts by financial year.

Key Facts

• Total off-island healthcare costs were approximately £18.9m, £21.2m, and £19.1m for the financial years 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-Jan 2017 respectively.
• The largest cost category was treatment and care in the UK, followed by flight costs including air ambulances.
• Administrative costs decreased between 2014-15 and 2015-16 due to a staff reduction cost-saving initiative.
• Patient journeys ranged from 8,727 to 9,752 per financial year, with escort journeys ranging from 5,615 to 6,070.
• The response clarified that data was provided by financial year rather than calendar year as originally requested.

Data Disclosed

• £18,871,863
• £21,154,530
• £19,136,581
• £3,418,358
• £14,505,323
• 9,608
• 5,835
• 9,752
• 6,070
• 8,727
• 5,615
• 1st Apr 2014 – 31st Mar 2015
• 1st Apr 2015 – 31st Mar 2016
• 1st Apr 2016 – end of Jan 2017

Data Tables (3)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 1 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/12

STRICTLY PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL

REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request dated 11th February 2017. Your request You asked for: Question 1: “What were the total costs to the Department between 2014-2016 (split per calendar year) for Island residents to receive off island health care? This is to include all financial costs related to the transfer and treatment of all Island residents who have received any form of medical care off island. Please subcategorize this between the following categories:  Air travel expenses (flights)  All other transport expenses in the UK (Taxi's etc.)  Cost of care through UK NHS through operations, seeing a specialist/consultant etc.  Administrative costs to the department (e.g. paper work filed for the treatment to commence)  All associated costs of transporting a patients friend/family remember if they also go across (transport/hotels/flights)  Any other categories where over £10,000+ has been spent during the calendar year” Question 2: “Also provide the number of patients that have gone across each financial year and the number of those who brought a friend/family member with them.” Response to your request We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to your questions: Question 1: What were the total costs to the Department between 2014-2016 (split per calendar year) for Island residents to receive off island health care? This is to include all financial costs related to the transfer and treatment of all Island residents 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: 22 February 2017

FOI Reference: IM-77-680-I

Page 2 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/12 who have received any form of medical care off island. Please subcategorize this between the following categories:  Air travel expenses (flights)  All other transport expenses in the UK (Taxi's etc.)  Cost of care through UK NHS through operations, seeing a specialist/consultant etc.  Administrative costs to the department (e.g. paper work filed for the treatment to commence)  All associated costs of transporting a patients friend/family remember if they also go across (transport/hotels/flights)  Any other categories where over £10,000+ has been spent during the calendar year Please find the Department’s response to Question 1 in the following tables.
This table shows the total cost to the Department of Health & Social Care for Island residents to receive off-Island health care, broken down into each financial year between 2014-16 (rather than calendar year, as agreed). Financial Year Total Cost 1st Apr 2014 – 31st Mar 2015 £18,871,863 1st Apr 2015 – 31st Mar 2016 £21,154,530 1st Apr 2016 – end of Jan 2017 £19,136,581 This table shows your requested breakdown of costs to the Department as above, for all Island residents who have received any form of medical care off island for each financial years between 2014-16.
Financial Year Flight costs (inc. Air Ambulance) Other Transport Costs (boat, taxis
(IOM & UK), accommodation contribution and mileage) Cost of treatment & care in UK Admin costs 1st Apr 2014 –
31st Mar 2015 £3,418,358 £769,742 £14,505,323 £178,440 1st Apr 2015 – 31st Mar 2016 £3,573,717 £839,863 £16,630,342 £110,608 1st Apr 2016 –
end of Jan 2017 £3,060,107 £734,636 £15,223,769 £118,069 The information in this table includes all patients referred to the U.K. via scheduled flight and Air Ambulance, for any form of medical care (acute and mental health) including the cost of repatriation to the Island for deceased patients.
Administrative costs provided are for the Patient Transfer Team who arrange travel for patients and escorts and reimburse claims made by patients. The cost to the Department of paper work being filed for the treatment to commence is not recorded and would be part of the post consultation process, irrespective if a patient is referred to the UK or not. The Administrative cost reduced between 2014-15 and 2015-16 as a result of a cost saving initiative whereby staff numbers were reduced.

Page 3 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/12 Question 2: Also provide the number of patients that have gone across each financial year and the number of those who brought a friend/family member with them. Please find the Department’s response to Question 2 in the following table. Please note, one patient or escort may make a number of journeys in any year and the escort number includes relatives and medical staff who may be accompanying or visiting patients. Financial Year Number of patient journeys Number of Escort journeys 1st April 2014 –
31st March 2015 9,608 5,835 1st April 2015 –
31st March 2016 9,752 6,070 1st April 2016 – end of January 2017 8,727 5,615 Please note, the information in this table includes all patients referred to the U.K. via scheduled flight and Air Ambulance, for any form of medical care (acute and mental health) including the cost of repatriation to the Island for deceased patients. 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:

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; 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.
   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