Breast Cancer Patients

Summary

A request was made for the criteria, number of grants, and costs of Independent Funding Requests (IFR) for breast cancer patients over the last five years. Manx Care provided the criteria and grant numbers for the period since its inception in 2021 but refused to disclose the costs citing a practical inability to locate the information.

Key Facts

• The request was handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015 by Manx Care.
• Information regarding the last 5 years pre-dates Manx Care, with prior data held by DHSC.
• Between April 2021 and January 2025, 44 applications for funding were approved.
• The criteria for IFR applications were provided via an attached Terms of Reference document.
• The cost of successful applications was withheld because Manx Care could not find the information after reasonable steps.

Data Disclosed

• 44 applications
• April 2021
• January 2025
• 2025-02-04
• 2025-03-03
• section 11(3)a
• pages 14-17

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (practical refusal: information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

* What is the criteria applied by the IFR in considering applications to it (not limited to any particular drug); * The number of applications granted in the last 5 years (again, not limited to any particular drug), * The cost of those successful applications (not limited to any particular drug).

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4420541 7 February 2025

Dear ###

This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

We write further to your request received 4 February 2025, which states:

"What is the criteria applied by the IFR in considering applications to it (not limited to any particular drug);
The number of applications granted in the last 5 years (again, not limited to any particular drug),
The cost of those successful applications (not limited to any particular drug)."

Response: 1. What is the criteria applied by the IFR in considering applications to it (not limited to any particular drug). Please see Terms of Reference attached (appendix 3, page 14-17) 2. The number of applications granted in the last 5 years (again, not limited to any particular drug). The last 5 years pre-dates Manx Care. Prior to April 2021, this information will be with DHSC.

April 2021 to January 2025, there have been 44 applications for funding approved. 3. The cost of those successful applications (not limited to any particular drug). While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care is unable to provide the information. 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.

Please quote the reference number 4420541 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.