Equality of Care

Summary

A request was made for detailed gender-disaggregated data on healthcare appointments, spending, and life expectancy over five years, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to provide the information.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the requested information.
• The information may be held by The Cabinet Office (Public Health) or Manx Care.
• The refusal is based on Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The request covered 11 specific questions regarding men's and women's health metrics.
• The applicant was advised to re-submit the request to the alternative authorities.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-03-03
• 2025-03-17
• 4486817
• Section 11(3)a
• last five years

Exemptions Cited

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

Original Request

1. How many GP appointments are for women and how many for men (broken down by age - 5 year blocks) for each of the last five years 2. How many referrals for secondary care are made in relation to women and how many for men (broken down by age - 5 year blocks) for each of the last five years 3. What population scans/tests are available to women and what are available to men and how much is spent on those scans/tests for women and how much is spent on those scans/tests for men in each of the last five years 4. What proportion of the budget is spent on care for women and what proportion of the budget is spent on care for men for each of the last five years 5. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to narrow the gap in (i) life expectancy and (ii) "healthy" life expectancy between men and women 6. What is the "healthy" life expectancy for each of women and men for each of the last five years 7. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to equalise the spending on the care of men and women 8. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to overcome the apparent reluctance of men to seek care 9. What thought, if any, has been given to creating a department specifically for men's health (like Obs&Gyne for women) 10. What thought, if any, has been given to promoting men's healthy specifically 11. Why was Covid vaccination not offered to men before being offered to women (in each priority category) when the mortality rate for men from Covid was much higher than for women

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Officer: Paul Richardson Freedom of Information Team First Floor Belgravia House Circular Road Douglas IM1 1AE

Our ref: 4486817 17 March 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 3 March 2025, which states:

"1. How many GP appointments are for women and how many for men (broken down by age - 5 year blocks) for each of the last five years
2. How many referrals for secondary care are made in relation to women and how many for men (broken down by age - 5 year blocks) for each of the last five years
3. What population scans/tests are available to women and what are available to men and how much is spent on those scans/tests for women and how much is spent on those scans/tests for men in each of the last five years
4. What proportion of the budget is spent on care for women and what proportion of the budget is spent on care for men for each of the last five years
5. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to narrow the gap in (i) life expectancy and (ii) "healthy" life expectancy between men and women
6. What is the "healthy" life expectancy for each of women and men for each of the last five years
7. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to equalise the spending on the care of men and women
8. What specific steps, if any, have been taken to overcome the apparent reluctance of men to seek care
9. What thought, if any, has been given to creating a department specifically for men's health (like Obs&Gyne for women)
10. What thought, if any, has been given to promoting men's healthy specifically
11. Why was Covid vaccination not offered to men before being offered to women (in each priority category) when the mortality rate for men from Covid was much higher than for women"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) is unable to provide the information that 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 as it may be held by another Department / Public Authority, namely The Cabinet Office (Public Health) & / or Manx Care.

You may wish to re-submit your request to The Cabinet Office (Public Health) & / or Manx Care which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who may be able to help you.

Please quote the reference number 4486817 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.