Deaths before discharge

Summary

A request was made for data on deaths before discharge and injuries extending discharge dates at Nobles Hospital over five years. The authority disclosed the number of deaths with expected discharge dates but stated it does not hold data on injuries extending discharge dates or ward-specific breakdowns.

Key Facts

• The request covered a 5-year period at Nobles Hospital.
• There were 1,739 total deaths in the last 5 years.
• 238 of those deaths occurred after an expected discharge date was given.
• The Department of Health and Social Care does not collate data on discharge extensions due to non-admission-related injuries.
• The authority does not hold information differentiating between admission injuries and injuries sustained during hospital stays by ward.

Data Disclosed

• 1,739
• 238
• 2018-11-22
• 2018-12-11
• 658665

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

Please provide the number of deaths that have occurred in the last 5 years in Nobles Hospital after a discharge date was given but death occurred before this date. Discharge date was extended due to an injury within the hospital but patient was released alive. By injury, I mean something that was not related to their original admission to hospital. Breakdown of death and injury by ward over the last 5 years.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 658665 11th December 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 22nd November 2018
which states:

Question 1: "Please provide the number of deaths that have occurred in the last 5 years in Nobles Hospital after a discharge date was given but death occurred before this date. Question 2: Discharge date was extended due to an injury within the hospital but patient was released alive. By injury, I mean something that was not related to their original admission to hospital. Question 3: Breakdown of death and injury by ward over the last 5 years."

We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to your questions: Question 1: Please provide the number of deaths that have occurred in the last 5 years in Nobles Hospital, after a discharge date was given, but death occurred before this date. During the last five years there have been 1,739 deaths of which 238 had an expected discharge date.

Question 2: Discharge date was extended due to an injury within the hospital, but patient was released alive. By injury, I mean something that was not related to their original admission to hospital. While our aim is to provide information wherever possible in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot after, taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that the applicant has requested (Section 11(3) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015). The department does not collate the information to show that an expected discharge date was extended due to an injury not related to their original admission. Question 3: Breakdown of death and injury by ward over the last 5 years. While our aim is to provide information wherever possible in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot after, taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that the applicant has requested (Section 11(3) (a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015). The department does not collate information to differentiate between patients admitted with an injury and subsequently receiving an injury during their hospital stay. Please quote the reference number 658665 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