Miscarriage/stillbirth figures

Summary

The requester asked for monthly and yearly figures of miscarriages and stillbirths on the Isle of Man from 2018 to the present. Manx Care withheld detailed breakdowns due to privacy concerns but disclosed the total number of recorded miscarriages for the period.

Key Facts

• Detailed monthly or yearly figures were refused because low numbers could identify patients.
• The total number of recorded miscarriages from 2018 to March 2024 is 776.
• Stillbirth figures were not provided in the response.
• The authority noted that miscarriages occurring without medical care are not captured in their data.
• The request was processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

Data Disclosed

• 2018
• 2024-03-06
• 2024-03-21
• 776
• 3722709

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25(b)(i) & (ii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Absolutely exempt personal information)
• Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation (Data protection principles)

Original Request

Hi, I'd appreciate it if you could send me the monthly/yearly figures of recorded miscarriages and stillbirths on the Isle of Man, dating from 2018 to the present date. Many thanks,

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000 Our ref: 3722709 21 March 2024
Dear

We write further to your request, received 6 March 2024, which states: "Hi,
I'd appreciate it if you could send me the monthly/yearly figures of recorded miscarriages and stillbirths on the Isle of Man, dating from 2018 to the present date.
Many thanks,

Our response. s25(b)(i)&(ii) While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested because it is absolutely exempt under section 25 of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that: • Manx Care is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • Manx Care is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that Manx Care can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met. This is because the numbers are low and this would identify the patient(s). However, we can provide the total number of miscarriages for the requested period, which is seven hundred and seventy six (776). Please note, but there will be women who miscarry without any medical care or intervention and we therefore do not capture this information. Please quote the reference number 3722709 in any future communications.

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.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review. If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. 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 2015; 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.

More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

Information Governance Manager