Current numbers on hospital waiting lists

Summary

The requester asked for specific waiting list numbers and delays for hip, knee, and cataract operations for Isle of Man residents. The Department of Health and Social Care refused the request, stating the detailed data is held by Manx Care, though they possess high-level statistics not broken down by procedure.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the specific procedure-level waiting list data requested.
• The information is likely held by Manx Care, which is responsible for service delivery.
• The Department holds high-level statistics for Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology but not broken down by specific operation type.
• The Department was redesigned on 1 April 2021 following Sir Jonathan Michael's Independent Review.
• The separation of policy (Department) and service delivery (Manx Care) prevents the Department from holding this specific data.

Data Disclosed

• 4777997
• 2025-07-08
• 2025-07-09
• 1 April 2021
• Section 11(3)a
• Section 15

Exemptions Cited

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

Original Request

Please provide the following current number for Isle of Man residents - A) The number of people awaiting hip replacements and the delay between referral and the operation. B) The number of people awaiting knee operations and the delay between referral and the operation. C) The number of people awaiting cataract operations and the delay between the advisability of operating and the operation.

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: 4777997 9 July 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 8 July 2025, which states:

"Please provide the following current number for Isle of Man residents -
A) The number of people awaiting hip replacements and the delay between referral and the operation.
B) The number of people awaiting knee operations and the delay between referral and the operation.
C) The number of people awaiting cataract operations and the delay between the advisability of operating and the operation."

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 Manx Care.

You may wish to re-submit your request to Manx Care which is an option available on the Freedom of Information request portal, who may be able to help you.

To provide advice and assistance, the Department of Health and Social Care redesigned on 1 April 2021 as a direct result of Sir Jonathan Michael’s Independent Review of the Isle of Man Health and Care System. This Review continues to be a catalyst for change and improved service provision. The redesigned Department ensures the separation between the setting of policy and strategy and the delivery of services by Manx Care.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under Section 15 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Duty to provide advice and assistance), the Department does hold and receive high level statistics provided to the Department by Manx Care for the waiting times of specialty areas such as Orthopaedics and Ophthalmology, but those figures are not broken down into procedure type.

Please quote the reference number 4777997 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.