Mental Heath off Island In patient Care for under 18

Summary

A request was made for detailed statistics and costs regarding under-18s sent off-island for mental health care over five years. Manx Care disclosed the total cost but withheld individual case details and breakdowns due to data protection exemptions.

Key Facts

• The request covered children under 18 sent off-island for mental health care from 2020 to 2025.
• Manx Care provided the total cost for the five-year period as £333,315.11.
• Information regarding individual case lengths and specific cost breakdowns was withheld.
• The authority cited low numbers of individuals as a reason why anonymization would fail to protect privacy.
• The response was issued on 9 October 2025 following a request received on 10 September 2025.

Data Disclosed

• £333,315.11
• 2025-09-10
• 2025-10-09
• 4926417
• 5 years

Exemptions Cited

• Section 25(2)(b)(i) and (ii) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Absolute exemption for personal information)
• Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Data protection principles)
• Article 6 and Article 9 of the GDPR (Conditions for lawful processing)

Original Request

Freedom of Information Request To: Manx Care Subject: Freedom of Information Request - Children Sent Off-Island Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, I would like to know: The number of children under the age of 18 who have been sent off the Isle of Man for treatment, care, or other services in each of the last five years (broken down by year). Inclusive of 2025 to date - For Mental Health Care. The length of time each child spent off-island (broken down by individual cases, but anonymised to protect privacy). The total associated cost incurred in relation to these off-island placements, including: Travel costs (Parents and Children) Accommodation costs (for both the child and any accompanying parents/guardians) Any other associated expenses A breakdown of the above information in spreadsheet format (e.g., CSV or Excel) would be particularly helpful. If some parts of this request exceed cost or time limits, please provide the information that can be disclosed within the limits and advise me on how I might refine my request to bring it within scope. I would prefer to receive the information electronically, ideally in spreadsheet format. Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your reply.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4926417 9 October 2025

Dear

We write further to your request, received 10 September 2025, which states:

"Freedom of Information Request To: Manx Care
Subject: Freedom of Information Request - Children Sent Off-Island

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act. Specifically, I would like to know:

The number of children under the age of 18 who have been sent off the Isle of Man for treatment, care, or other services in each of the last five years (broken down by year). Inclusive of 2025 to date - For Mental Health Care.

The length of time each child spent off-island (broken down by individual cases, but anonymised to protect privacy).

The total associated cost incurred in relation to these off-island placements, including:

Travel costs (Parents and Children)

Accommodation costs (for both the child and any accompanying parents/guardians)

Any other associated expenses

A breakdown of the above information in spreadsheet format (e.g., CSV or Excel) would be particularly helpful.

If some parts of this request exceed cost or time limits, please provide the information that can be disclosed within the limits and advise me on how I might refine my request to bring it within scope.

I would prefer to receive the information electronically, ideally in spreadsheet format.

Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to your reply."

Response

The total cost for last 5 years (to date) is £333,315.11
s25(b)(i)&(ii) While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because it is absolutely exempt under section 25(2)(b)[(i)/(ii)] of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information). The reasons why that exemption applies are that:
• Manx Care is satisfied that the information amounts to personal data of which you are not the data subject; and • Manx Care is satisfied that disclosure of the information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that Manx Care can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 [or if you are dealing with sensitive personal data “and one of the conditions in Article 9 of the GDPR and Schedule 2 of the Implementing Regulations is met”] and in this case, none of those conditions have been met.
Due to the low numbers of individuals that this request covers breaking down the information as requested would make it easier to identify them therefore contravening their rights under GDPR.

Please quote the reference number 4926417 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.

Yours sincerely