Data related to asbestos exposure

Summary

The requester sought 20 years of data on residents diagnosed with or treated for asbestos-related illnesses, but Manx Care stated they do not hold comprehensive historical records for the full period. However, the authority disclosed current statistics showing 164 total recorded cases, including 84 deceased individuals and 60 currently registered patients.

Key Facts

• Manx Care refused the full request under section 11(3)a of the Act as they do not hold the specific historical data requested.
• The authority advised contacting the Public Health department as asbestos-related disease is a notifiable condition.
• Records held by Manx Care show 164 people with asbestos-related diseases such as Mesothelioma and pleural plaques.
• Of the 164 recorded cases, 84 individuals are deceased.
• There are currently 60 people registered with asbestos-related conditions.

Data Disclosed

• 164
• 84
• 60
• 20 years
• 2025-09-23
• 2025-10-23
• 4953573

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Act (Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

I would like to access data related to the number of residents who have been diagnosed with and/ or treated for and / or recorded as having a cause of death from asbestos exposure related illnesses mesothelioma or asbestosis. Any such data for available for the past 20 years if possible Understood re the below. Can I please have any information available relating to the number of people who had contact with hospital services with asbestos related conditions.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 4953573 23 October 2025

Dear

We write further to your request, received 23 September 2025, which states:

"I would like to access data related to the number of residents who have been diagnosed with and/ or treated for and / or recorded as having a cause of death from asbestos exposure related illnesses mesothelioma or asbestosis. Any such data for available for the past 20 years if possible

Understood re the below. Can I please have any information available relating to the number of people who had contact with hospital services with asbestos related conditions?"

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Care is unable to provide the information 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.

We would advise that you contact the Public Health department to ascertain if they hold records as Asbestos related disease is a notifiable disease.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

Records held by Manx Care (including patients who have left or died) show that there are 164 people showing asbestos related diseases such as Mesothelioma and pleural plaques etc.

Of this number 84 people shown as being deceased (of any cause).

There are currently 60 people registered.

Please quote the reference number 4953573 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