Health and Social Care Ombudsman Report 2025

Summary

The requester asked for the receipt date and publication location of the 2025 Health and Social Care Ombudsman annual report, but the Department of Health and Social Care refused to disclose this specific information citing an exemption for future publication.

Key Facts

• The request was deemed 'qualified exempt' under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 because the information is scheduled for future public release.
• The HSCOB annual report must be delivered to the Department by 31 August of the completion year.
• The Department is required to publish the report within one month of it being laid before Tynwald.
• The previous 2023/24 report was delivered on 14 August 2024 and laid before Tynwald on 21 January 2025.
• The request was officially closed on 21 August 2025.

Data Disclosed

• 31st March 2025
• 31st of August
• 14th August 2024
• 21st January 2025
• 21 August 2025
• 31 July 2025
• 4839086
• Section 41
• Section 15
• one month

Exemptions Cited

• Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information for future publication)

Original Request

Please provide information on when DHSC received the annual report to 31st March 2025 from the Health and Social Care Ombudsman Body ("HSCOB") Please also provide information on where DHSC has published same. Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4839086 21 August 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 31 July 2025, which states:

"Please provide information on when DHSC received the annual report to 31st March 2025 from the Health and Social Care Ombudsman Body ("HSCOB")

Please also provide information on where DHSC has published same.

Thank you."

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, as it has been deemed ‘qualified exempt’ from disclosure. This is in line with Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information for future publication) as this information will be made available to the public in due course.

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 have provided the following information to assist in your request.

The Health & Social Care Ombudsman Body (HSCOB) annual report is to be received to the Department no later than the 31st of August of the year of completion and then laid before Tynwald as soon as reasonably practicable. Following this, the Department must publish this report by such means as the Department considers appropriate, within one month of being laid before Tynwald.

The previous 2023/24 report time frame for example was;

HSCOB delivering their report to the Department – 14th August 2024 Department laying the report before Tynwald – 21st January 2025

If you wish to review the previous HSCOB annual reports and the upcoming 2024/25 report once published, we have provided the link to the website bellow.

https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/health-and-social- care/statutory-bodies-and-volunteers/health-and-social-care-ombudsman- body/#accordion

Please quote the reference number 4839086 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.