On call payments for Anaesthetists

Summary

A request was made for the specific on-call payment costs for two anaesthetists at Noble's Hospital during weekend hours, but Manx Care responded that this information is not held because on-call duties are embedded within overall salary packages and not recorded as separate line items.

Key Facts

• Manx Care does not hold standalone data for on-call payments as they are integrated into consultant job plans.
• The authority cited Section 10(2)(b) of the Isle of Man FOIA, stating they are not required to create new information to isolate these costs.
• Additional on-call cover for vacancies or leave may be provided by bank staff at standardized rates.
• The request was formally closed on 11 February 2025 with an outcome of 'Information not held'.
• Manx Care offered to provide general information on on-call structures or pay scale data as an alternative.

Data Disclosed

• 4371457
• 2025-01-14
• 2025-02-11
• Friday 8pm - Monday 8am
• 60 hours
• Section 10(2)(b)
• Section 15
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 10(2)(b) FOIA – Information Not Held in the Requested Format

Original Request

1. During the hours of Friday 8pm - Monday 8am (60 hours) excluding call outs, what is the total 'on call' payment cost to Manx Care for the 1st on call Anaesthetist at Nobles Hospital. 2. During the hours of Friday 8pm - Monday 8am (60 hours), excluding call outs, what is the total 'on call' payment cost to Manx Care for the 2nd on call Anaesthetist at Nobles Hospital.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4371457 5 February 2025

Dear

We write further to your request received 14 January 2025, which states:

"1. During the hours of Friday 8pm - Monday 8am (60 hours) excluding call outs, what is the total 'on call' payment cost to Manx Care for the 1st on call Anaesthetist at Nobles Hospital.

1. During the hours of Friday 8pm - Monday 8am (60 hours), excluding call outs, what is the total 'on call' payment cost to Manx Care for the 2nd on call Anaesthetist at Nobles Hospital."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However the following information may be of use.

Upon review, Manx Care is unable to provide a total standalone ‘on-call’ payment cost for the 1st and 2nd on-call Anaesthetists during the specified period for the following reasons:

Anaesthetist Pay Structure and On-Call Arrangements The on-call component is embedded within the contractual job plans of consultant anaesthetists, meaning that it is not a separately identifiable payment in the majority of cases. Anaesthetists are remunerated under different pay scales depending on their grade and years of service. On-call duties form part of the overall salary package, making it difficult to isolate a precise figure for the cost of on-call duties for a specific weekend period.

Additional Considerations Affecting On-Call Costs In cases of vacancies, long-term sickness, or annual leave, additional on-call cover may be required, which could be fulfilled through hospital bank staff at standardised bank rates.

Section 10(2)(b) FOIA – Information Not Held in the Requested Format

Under Section 10(2)(b) of the Isle of Man FOIA, a public authority is not required to create new information in response to a request where the information is not already recorded in the requested format. As explained, on-call payments are integrated within

salaried positions, and Manx Care does not maintain a dataset isolating the specific costs of on-call periods excluding call-outs.

Advice and Assistance (Section 15 FOIA) To assist with your request, Manx Care may be able to provide:

General information on the on-call structure and associated job planning arrangements. Indicative figures based on standardised bank rates, where applicable, for ad-hoc cover. Pay scale data for consultant anaesthetists, subject to applicable exemptions.

If you wish to refine your request, please let us know how we can assist within the scope of recorded information.

Please quote the reference number 4371457 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