Prison health

Summary

A request for information regarding the cost and tender process for medical services at the Isle of Man Prison was partially fulfilled. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the tender timeline, the number of applicants, and the successful practice, but withheld specific annual costs citing commercial interest exemptions.

Key Facts

• Expressions of interest for prison medical services were sought in February 2015.
• Only one medical practice applied to be included on the tender list.
• Peel Medical Centre was the successful applicant for the service.
• The annual cost of providing medical services to the prison was withheld.
• The specific annual cost accepted by the successful practice was withheld.

Data Disclosed

• February 2015
• 1
• Peel Medical Centre
• 17 April 2017
• 15 May 2017
• Section 30

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 (qualified exempt information having economy and commercial interests)

Data Tables (1)

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 May 2017 IM84-677i

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 17 April 2017

Your request You asked for: Question 01: “What is the annual cost of providing medical to the prison?” Question 02: “Regarding the provision of doctors to the prison when was this service subject to tender process?”
Question 03: “[What was] The number of medical practices applied to be included on a select tender list?” Question 04: “What practice was successful and the annual cost accepted?”

Response to your request We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to some of your questions; 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 01: What is the annual cost of providing medical to the prison? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in Question 01 because of an exemption under Section 30 (qualified exempt information having “economy and commercial interests”) of the Act applies to that information.

Page 2 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01 As this exemption is subject to the public interest test, the Department has also considered whether the public interest falling in favour of releasing or withholding the information. Having considered all the circumstances of the exemption against this request, we believe the balance of public interest falls in favour of withholding the information exempt under section 30. On behalf of the Department, the FOI Team apologises that on this occasion we have not been able to be of more assistance. Question 02: Regarding the provision of doctors to the prison when was this service subject to tender process? In response to Question 02, the Department sought expressions of interest for providing general medical services to the Isle of Man Prison in February 2015. Question 03: [What was] The number of medical practices applied to be included on a select tender list? In response to Question 03, the Department can confirm that one medical practice applied to be included on the tender list.
Question 04: What practice was successful and the annual cost accepted? In response to Question 04, the Department can confirm that Peel Medical Centre was successful.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested in the second part of Question 04 because of an exemption under Section 30 (qualified exempt information having “economy and commercial interests”) of the Act applies to that information. As this exemption is subject to the public interest test, the Department has also considered whether the public interest falling in favour of releasing or withholding the information. Having considered all the circumstances of the exemption against this request, we believe the balance of public interest falls in favour of withholding the information exempt under section 30. On behalf of the Department, the FOI Team apologises that on this occasion we have not been able to be of more assistance. 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:

Page 3 of 3 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01 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: 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