Elective surgeries on hold

Summary

A request was made for a list of elective surgical procedures cancelled due to recent budget cuts, but Manx Care responded that no such list exists as they have maintained operating times despite reduced theatre sessions.

Key Facts

• Manx Care does not hold a list of elective surgical procedures that will no longer be carried out this financial year.
• The authority increased theatre utilisation by 6.5% in October 2024 compared to the last month of the 2023-2024 financial year.
• Despite a planned reduction in theatre sessions, total surgeon operating time has not decreased compared to the same period in 2023.
• The response cites section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as the reason for refusal.
• Manx Care aims to mitigate the impact of cost-saving measures on patient experience through improved productivity.

Data Disclosed

• 6.5%
• October 2024
• FY 23.24
• 2023
• 16 October 2024
• 13 November 2024
• 4199357

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)

Original Request

Please provide a list of elective surgical procedures which will no longer be carried out this financial year following cuts announced last week.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000

Our ref: 4199357 13 November 2024

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 16 October 2024, which states:

"Please provide a list of elective surgical procedures which will no longer be carried out this financial year following cuts announced last week."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.

However in order to provide advice and assistance you may wish to know:

Since its inception Manx Care have invested heavily in quality improvement not only improving outcomes for patients but utilisation of its resources. One of these improvement programs was based on theatre where accreditation was gained from the Association for Perioperative Practice. This is a strong indication of adherence to best practice principles within the theatre environment. In line with these improvements theatre utilisation performance for October 2024 Compared to the last month of FY 23.24 the shows a 6.5% increase in Theatre Utilisation.

Building on these improvements and aiming to address the financial pressures, the organisation has increased its focus on making best use of theatre resources to deliver the same knife to skin time within a reduced theatre schedule. As such despite a planned reduction in the number of theatre sessions allocated to some surgical specialties, a review of patient activity comparing with the same period in 2023 has shown no reduction in the total time surgeons spent operating on patients. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of our clinical and operational staff, who have focused on enhancing productivity to help ensure minimal impact of cost saving measures on patient experience.

In line with the above statement there is no “list of elective surgical procedures that will no longer be carried out this financial year” as the intent has been to mitigate impacts to patients as much as possible.

Please quote the reference number 4199357 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.