Helicopter Requests
| Authority | Manx Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2024-12-10 |
| Outcome | Some information sent but not all held |
| Outcome date | 2024-12-09 |
| Case ID | 4305597 |
Summary
The requester asked for a three-year breakdown of helicopter patient transfers to the UK and associated costs, excluding TT week. Manx Care provided aggregated mission counts for Great North Air Ambulance and Search and Rescue but refused to disclose costs or specific annual breakdowns for SAR missions due to data not being held or privacy concerns.
Key Facts
- Manx Care does not hold the cost data for individual helicopter journeys and suggested contacting the Treasury Department.
- Great North Air Ambulance data for 2022-2024 was combined to prevent patient identification due to low figures.
- Search and Rescue mission counts for 2022-2024 were provided, but specific data for GNAAS SAR missions was not held by the air ambulance.
- The request explicitly excluded transfers occurring during the TT week period.
- The response was issued under section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 as a practical refusal for missing information.
Data Disclosed
- 14 missions to Aintree Hospital
- 4 missions to Alderhey Children's Hospital
- 9 missions to Liverpool Heart & Chest
- 5 missions to Nobles
- 23 Treat on Scene / Standdown missions
- 6 SAR missions in 2022
- 11 SAR missions in 2023
- 13 SAR missions in 2024
- TT week exclusion dates: 29 May to 10 June (2022/2023), 27 May to 8 June (2024)
- Reference number: 4305597
Exemptions Cited
- Section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)
Original Request
Hi Manx Care, Please can you tell me over the 3 years how many times excluding TT that a helicopter has been used to fly patients to UK. 2024 2023 2022 Break down by Great North Air Ambulance Search and Rescue Aircraft And what is the cost for each journey please. Thank you.
Data Tables (2)
| Aintree Hospital | Alderhey Children’s Hospital | Liverpool Heart & Chest | Nobles | Treat on Scene / Standown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 23 |
| Year | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TT week exclusion | 29 May to 10 June | 29 May to 10 June | 27 May to 8 June | |||
| Provider | SARUK | GNAAS | SARUK | GNAAS | SARUK | GNAAS |
| Number of missions | 6 | Not held by air ambulance | 11 | Not held by air ambulance | 13 | Not held by air ambulance |
Full Response Text
Manx Care Noble’s Hospital, Strang Braddan, Isle of Man IM4 4R (01624) 650 000 Our ref: 4305597 12 December 2024 Dear
We write further to your request, received 10 December 2024, which states: "Hi Manx Care, Please can you tell me over the 3 years how many times excluding TT that a helicopter has been used to fly patients to UK. 2024/2023/2022 Breakdown by Great North Air Ambulance Search and Rescue Aircraft And what is the cost for each journey please. Thank you." 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.
The cost of each journey is not held by Manx Care. It is suggested that you contact the Treasury Department for this information (Admin.Treasury@gov.im).
Great North Air Ambulance - Years 2022/2023/2024
These years have been combined due to the low figures, this enables individuals to be kept
anonymous whilst separating the years could make individuals clearly identifiable.
Aintree Hospital Alderhey Children’s Hospital Liverpool Heart & Chest Nobles Treat on Scene / Standown 14 4 9 5 23
Search and Rescue Aircraft Year 2022 2023 2024 TT week exclusion 29 May to 10 June 29 May to 10 June 27 May to 8 June Provider SARUK GNAAS SARUK GNAAS SARUK GNAAS Number of missions 6 Not held by air ambulance 11 Not held by air ambulance 13 Not held by air ambulance
Please quote the reference number 4305597 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