FOI Request - Patient Transfers from the Isle of Man

Original Request

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to submit a request regarding patient transfers from the Isle of Man to the UK. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information: 1. Patient Transfer Costs The average cost of transferring a patient from the Isle of Man to the UK, excluding the cost of treatment, broken down by year and month for the past five years. -A breakdown of costs associated with patient transfers, including but not limited to: -On-island transport (e.g., taxi, bus, ambulance) -Air or sea travel (e.g., plane, boat, emergency helicopter) - Transport within the UK (e.g., taxi, bus, ambulance) -Any additional administrative or logistical costs related to the transfer process. 2. Number of Patients Transferred for ENT Treatment The total number of patients transferred to the UK for ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) treatment, broken down by: -Year and month for the past five years. -Mode of transport used on the Isle of Man (bus, taxi, ambulance, emergency helicopter, etc.). -Mode of transport used in the UK (bus, taxi, ambulance, etc.). -Whether the transport was arranged by the healthcare provider or by the patient. 3. Reimbursed Costs to Patients A breakdown of any costs that were refunded to patients as part of the patient transfer process, including but not limited to: -Petrol/mileage reimbursement. -Public transport fare reimbursement. -Accommodation costs (if applicable). -Any other costs refunded to patients. -The total amount reimbursed to patients each year over the past five years.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4458173 12 March 2025

Dear

We write further to your request, received 19 February 2025, which states:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to submit a request regarding patient transfers from the Isle of Man to the UK. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

1. Patient Transfer Costs

The average cost of transferring a patient from the Isle of Man to the UK, excluding the cost of treatment, broken down by year and month for the past five years.

-A breakdown of costs associated with patient transfers, including but not limited to:

-On-island transport (e.g., taxi, bus, ambulance)

-Air or sea travel (e.g., plane, boat, emergency helicopter)

• Transport within the UK (e.g., taxi, bus, ambulance)

-Any additional administrative or logistical costs related to the transfer process.

1. Number of Patients Transferred for ENT Treatment

The total number of patients transferred to the UK for ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) treatment, broken down by:

-Year and month for the past five years.

-Mode of transport used on the Isle of Man (bus, taxi, ambulance, emergency helicopter, etc.).

-Mode of transport used in the UK (bus, taxi, ambulance, etc.).

-Whether the transport was arranged by the healthcare provider or by the patient.

1. Reimbursed Costs to Patients

A breakdown of any costs that were refunded to patients as part of the patient transfer process, including but not limited to:

-Petrol/mileage reimbursement.

-Public transport fare reimbursement.

-Accommodation costs (if applicable).

-Any other costs refunded to patients.

-The total amount reimbursed to patients each year over the past five years."

Response Under S11(3)(b) complying with the request for information would require the public authority to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8(3) (things a public authority is not required to do by the Act) to create or derive information from informa tion that it holds which the Department is not required to do under the Act.

Please find below data that we hold in response to the information request:-

Patient Transfer Expenditure Total 20-21 (£) Total 21-22 (£) Total 22-23 (£) Total 23-24 (£) Total 24-25 (£) Air and sea travel 2,409,893.31 2,165,771.87 2,199,055.65 2,537,210.72 2,460,634.50 Road transport - UK and IOM 136,805.04 309,349.27 422,395.17 422,950.09 351,681.80 Rail transport - UK 917.07 6,100.70 4,830.76 5,668.65 4,840.20 Accommodation - UK 278,056.68 380,899.81 396,232.35 459,666.68 392,436.16

In order to protect commercial sensitivity we are unable to further breakdown the costs associated with Air and Sea travel along with the costs associated with road transport locally and within the UK, therefore I have grouped these together. We do not hold the above figures broken down by month that we would be able to provide within the specified time frame however, if the requestor of information would still like the information in that format, it would take our finance department approximately 2 further weeks to provide this. I would also like to caveat that the financial year 2024- 25 is not yet complete and therefore the actual costs will likely be higher than outlined above for this year only.

The costs above relate to scheduled travel/elective appointments and do not include costs for emergency transfers - that data may be held by Air Ambulance.

In relation to point 2 of the FOI request, we do not currently hold data pertaining to this level of patient analysis.

In relation to point 3 of the FOI request, the data that we hold groups all associated costs together regardless of whether the Patient Transfer office has made the booking

or whether costs have been reimbursed to patients making their own arrangements to attend their UK appointment.

Please quote the reference number 4458173 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely