prescriptions issued

Summary

A request was made for prescription statistics and patient counts for specific age groups in the Isle of Man between March 2016 and April 2017. The Department of Health and Social Care provided data on patient numbers and total prescriptions issued but refused to disclose the specific number of individuals who paid for prescriptions, citing the cost of compilation.

Key Facts

• The request covered the period from March 2016 to April 2017.
• There were 7,833 patients aged over 75 registered with a GP as of July 1, 2017.
• There were 56,103 patients aged 16-65 registered with a GP as of July 1, 2017.
• 471,955 prescriptions were issued to patients over 75 during the specified period.
• 672,671 prescriptions were issued to patients aged 16-65 during the specified period.

Data Disclosed

• 7,833
• 56,103
• 471,955
• 336,259
• 672,671
• 10%
• 01-Jul-17
• 01-Apr-16
• 31-Mar-17
• March 2016
• April 2017

Exemptions Cited

• S11(3)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (substantial compilation or collation of information)

Original Request

How many people over 75 and how many prescriptions issued in this period? How many people 16- 65, how many prescriptions issued in this period? and how many of these paid for their prescriptions in this period?

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 1 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch By email:
Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3QA Tel: Email: Website: Date: FOI Reference: (01624) 642621 foi.dhsc@gov.im www.gov.im/dhsc 15 September 2017 IM99-606i 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 18 August 2017 Your request You asked “I refer to Mrs Beecroft’s press release regarding persons 65-75 paying for their prescriptions and the ongoing consultation process… I should like to examine the whole of the statistics for the year March 2016 until April 2017. Might you please provide me with the following information for the period March 2016 to April 2017:-
Question 01: How many people over 75? Question 02: How many prescriptions were issued to over the over 75 in this period?”
Question 03: “How many people 16- 65? Question 04: How many prescriptions were issued to over those aged 16-65 in this period? Question 05: How many of those in Question 04 paid for their prescriptions in this period?”

Response to your request While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, we are able to provide a response to your request with answers to all but one of your questions; the reasons for this are shown as part of the corresponding answer below. Question 01: How many people over 75? In response to Question 01, as of the 01-Jul-17, there are 7,833 patients aged over 75 years old, registered with a GP on the Isle of Man.

Page 2 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01 Question 02: How many prescriptions were issued to over the over 75 in this period? In response to Question 02, for the period 01-Apr-16 and 31-Mar-17, 471,955 prescriptions were issued to patients aged over 75 years old. You may also find it helpful to know that for the period 01-Apr-16 and 31-Mar-17, there were 336,259 prescriptions issued for patients aged between 65-74 years old. Question 03: How many people 16- 65? In response to Question 03, as of the 01-Jul-17, there are 56,103 patients aged between 16-65 years old, registered with a GP on the Isle of Man. Question 04: How many prescriptions were issued to over those aged 16-65 in this period In response to Question 04, for the period 01-Apr-16 and 31-Mar-17, 672,671 prescriptions were issued to patients aged between 16-65 years old. Question 05: How many of those in Question 04 paid for their prescriptions in this period While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) to create or derive information from information that it holds, as well as undertake substantial compilation or collation of information that it holds, which the Department is not required to do under the Act (S11(3)(b) of the Act). However, you may find useful to know that 10% items prescribed in the period 01-Apr-16 and 31-Mar-17, attracted a fee. 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.

Page 3 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01 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