Mental Health waiting list cancellations.

Summary

The requester asked for data on mental health appointment cancellations between October 2018 and September 2019 and the outcomes of previously rescheduled appointments. The Department of Health and Social Care provided detailed cancellation statistics but refused the request for rescheduling outcomes as that data is not collated.

Key Facts

• 1,864 health appointments were cancelled by Health Care Practitioners between 13 October 2018 and 22 September 2019.
• The most common reason for cancellation was 'Cancelled by HCP' with 1,505 instances.
• 300 additional cancelled appointments were included for transparency but their origin (HCP or Patient) was unclear.
• Information regarding the results or outcomes of 1,113 rescheduled appointments and 62 rescheduled clinics was not held.
• The authority cited Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to refuse the request for rescheduling outcomes.

Data Disclosed

• 1864
• 1505
• 55
• 2
• 18
• 136
• 24
• 80
• 31
• 13
• 300
• 28
• 5
• 267
• 1113
• 62
• 13th October 2018
• 22nd September 2019
• 23rd September 2019
• 8th October 2019
• Ref: 624670
• Ref: 970761

Exemptions Cited

• Section 8(3) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information not held or would require creation/derivation of data)

Original Request

Question 1: I request a repeat of the FOI request, Ref: 624670 ('…can you please let me know how many mental health appointments have been cancelled or re-arranged by the Practitioner..) with the alteration that the data be between the 13th October 2018 to the 22nd September 2019. Question 2: Also I request the results/outcomes (including cancellation outcomes) of the 1113 Rescheduled Appointments and 62 Rescheduled Clinics from Ref: 624670 If there's additional information, or part-information in respect and support towards this FOI, then please include this.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Angela Murray Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 970761 8th October 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 23rd September 2019 and states:

"Question 1: I request a repeat of the FOI request, Ref: 624670 ('…can you please let me know how many mental health appointments have been cancelled or re- arranged by the Practitioner..) with the alteration that the data be between the 13th October 2018 to the 22nd September 2019. Question 2: Also I request the results/outcomes (including cancellation outcomes) of the 1113 Rescheduled Appointments and 62 Rescheduled Clinics from Ref: 624670 If there's additional information, or part-information in respect and support towards this FOI, then please include this."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

Question 1: I request a repeat of the FOI request, Ref: 624670 (“…can you please let me know how many mental health appointments have been cancelled or re- arranged by the Practitioner..2) with the alteration that the data be between the 13th October 2018 to 22nd September 2019. Our response to your latest request is as follows: There were 1864 health appointments cancelled by the Health Care Practitioners (HCP) between the specified dates. Of these appointments, the reasons for these cancellations in comparison to your request reference 624670 are: Cancelled by HCP 1505 Clinic Cancelled 55 Clinic Overrun 2 Overbooked 18 Staff Sickness 136 Rescheduled by HCP 24 Rescheduled Clinic 80 Slot Cancelled 31 Other 13 There are a further 300 cancelled appointments which are unclear if they are cancelled by HCP or the Patient but are included for transparency of response. Cancellation Given 28 Cancellation after letter sent 5 Cancelled by Admin 267 Question 2: Also I request the results/outcomes (including cancellation outcomes) of the 1113 Rescheduled Appointments and 63 Rescheduled Clinics from Ref: 624670 If there's additional information, or part-information in respect and support towards this FOI, then please include this. Complying with the request for information would require the public authority to do one or more of the matters mentioned in section 8(3) (things a public authority is not required to do by the Act S11(3)(b)).
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, complying with your request for information would require us to create or derive information from information that we hold. This is because the Department does not collate information on the results/outcomes of rescheduled appointments/clinics.

Please quote the reference number 970761 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