Current prescribers on the Isle of Man

Summary

The requester asked for a list of medical, dental, and nurse prescribers on the Isle of Man for 2018/2019. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed such a list exists but refused to disclose it, citing security concerns regarding individual prescribers.

Key Facts

• The Department of Health and Social Care holds a list of people able to prescribe prescription-only medication on the Isle of Man.
• The request for the specific list of medical, dental, and nurse prescribers for 2018/2019 was partially exempt.
• Disclosure was refused under Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.
• The exemption was applied because releasing the list would likely impede security arrangements and reduce anonymity for individual prescribers.
• The public interest test concluded that maintaining the exemption outweighed the benefits of transparency.

Data Disclosed

• 2019-04-30
• 2019-05-15
• 2018/2019
• 805466
• Section 30
• 3 pages
• 1 document

Exemptions Cited

• Section 30 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Security arrangements)

Original Request

Question 1: Does the Manx Government have a list of people who are able to prescribe prescription only medication on the Island? Question 2: Could I have a current list of medical, dental and nurse prescribers on the Isle of Man for the year 2018 / 2019?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Angela Murray Freedom of Information Team DHSC Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas IM1 3QA

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

Our ref: 805466 15th May 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 30th April 2019 and states:

Question 1: Does the Manx Government have a list of people who are able to prescribe prescription only medication on the Island? Question 2: Could I have a current list of medical, dental and nurse prescribers on the Isle of Man for the year 2018/2019? We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to some of your questions; while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested. The reasons and statutory exemption sections are shown as part of the corresponding answers below. Question 1: Does the Manx Government have a list of people who are able to prescribe prescription only medication on the Island? Yes. The Department has a list of prescribers of prescription only medication on the Isle of Man.

Could I have a current list of medical, dental and nurse prescribers on the Isle of Man for the year 2018/2019? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information requested is exempt under section 30 of the Act, as disclosure would be likely to impede the security arrangements in relation to prescribing.
As section 30 is a qualified exemption, it is subject to a public interest test. The public interest must be something that is of serious concern and benefit to the public at large. Factors in favour of disclosing the information include: • demonstrating the governance arrangements in place within the Department of Health and Social Care • openness and transparency Factors in favour of maintaining the exemption include: • continuing to provide a level of anonymity for individual prescribers • reducing the possibility of inappropriate access to individual prescribers In assessing the weight to be attributed to each of the factors in favour of disclosing the information and maintaining the exemption, the Department of Health and Social Care has taken the following into consideration • The severity of the impact of the prejudice is significantly weighted towards maintaining the exemption In taking these factors into account the Department of Health and Social Care determined that the factors in favour of maintaining the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosing the information.

Please quote the reference number 805466 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