Respiratory Services Inc. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)

Summary

A request was made for data on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) waiting lists and staffing trends at Manx Care's Nobles Hospital. The authority provided current waiting numbers and staffing updates but refused historical trend data for the past five years citing that the information was not held prior to August 2023.

Key Facts

• In December 2025, 251 patients were waiting for a first outpatient appointment and 576 for a follow-up within Respiratory Medicine.
• Historical data on patient waiting numbers and staff changes prior to August 2023 is not held by Manx Care.
• The diagnosis to treatment pathway for OSA currently takes around 3 months.
• The sleep clinic capacity increased from 12 to 24 patients per month following staff appointments in October 2025.
• Patients referred for sleep apnoea assessment by a consultant currently face the longest waiting list, estimated at around 4 years.

Data Disclosed

• 251
• 576
• 26
• 15
• 11
• 16th March
• August 2023
• June 2025
• 40 referrals per month
• 37 sleep studies per month
• 24 patients per month
• 12 per month
• October
• 4 years
• 3 months
• 2026-01-09
• 2026-03-05
• 25 February 2026

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(a) of the Act (Practical refusal: information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to submit a request regarding Respiratory services on the Isle of Man, with specific queries on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) at Nobles Hospital. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information: 1- How many people are currently waiting to receive diagnosis and treatment for OSA at Nobles. 2- In the past 5 years, how has the number of patients waiting for OSA diagnosis and treatment changed. 3- In the past 5 years, how has the number of qualified personnel in the Nobles Respiratory department able to administer and interpret sleep studies, and treat OSA, changed. 4- How many people are currently waiting to be seen for all Respiratory related conditions on the Isle of Man. 5- What respiratory condition currently has the longest waiting list for treatment within the Respiratory department. Kind regards,

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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

Our ref: 5216845 25 February 2026

Dear **

We write further to your request, received 9 January 2026, which states:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to submit a request regarding Respiratory services on the Isle of Man, with specific queries on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) at Nobles Hospital. I would be grateful if you could provide the following information:

1- How many people are currently waiting to receive diagnosis and treatment for OSA at Nobles.

2- In the past 5 years, how has the number of patients waiting for OSA diagnosis and treatment changed.

3- In the past 5 years, how has the number of qualified personnel in the Nobles Respiratory department able to administer and interpret sleep studies, and treat OSA, changed.

4- How many people are currently waiting to be seen for all Respiratory related conditions on the Isle of Man.

5- What respiratory condition currently has the longest waiting list for treatment within the Respiratory department.

Kind regards,"

Response 1- How many people are currently waiting to receive diagnosis and treatment for OSA at Nobles. In December 2025, there were 251 patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant nurse or Allied Health Professional (AHP) within the Respiratory Medicine service, and 576 patients were waiting for a follow up outpatient appointment. Patients who have been referred for diagnostic studies - 26 waiting for an appointment for a LSS and 15 booked over the next couple of weeks. There are 11 patients booked to be given diagnosis and start on treatment, last appointment 16th March

2- In the past 5 years, how has the number of patients waiting for OSA diagnosis and treatment changed. S11 (3)(a) 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. Information not held pre Aug 2023, but the length of time from referral to treatment is running consistently at 3 months.

3- In the past 5 years, how has the number of qualified personnel in the Nobles Respiratory department able to administer and interpret sleep studies, and treat OSA, changed. S11 (3)(a) 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. Information not held pre Aug 2023. Substantive member of staff appointed to replace long term locum to provide sleep/vent service A second substantive member of staff appointed in June 2025 who is also able to provide all sleep and vent services.

4- How many people are currently waiting to be seen for all Respiratory related conditions on the Isle of Man. Around 40 referrals per month are received for the sleep clinic, and that we can maximally do 37 sleep studies per month, which is done by the cardiorespiratory department. There has been a substantive Specialist Physiologist in place since summer 2023, prior to that locum staff covered it. Since autumn 2025 there has been another physiologist employed substantively.
In the sleep clinic we can see 24 patients per month, and have increased this number from 12 per month when we had a staff grade employed in October.

5- What respiratory condition currently has the longest waiting list for treatment within the Respiratory department. I believe that the current wait is around 4 years to be seen on a routine basis in the sleep clinic. However, whether or not these patients suffer with sleep apnoea can only be diagnosed with a sleep study.

Once referred to the Cardiorespiratory department the diagnosis to treatment pathway is around 3 months. Longest waiting list for seeing patient groups are the patients referred for assessment of sleep apnoea by a consultant. Further information - Manx Care Waiting Times Reports can be found at the below website https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/statutory-boards/manx-care/patient- access-policy-and-waiting-times-reports/manx-care-waiting-times-reports/#accordion

Please quote the reference number 5216845 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 faithfully