Our ref: DE474439

18 January 2010

Dear Mr Williams

Thank you for your email request of 21 January, which asked, under the Freedom of Information Act:

“Please detail the mechanism by which payments under the Reciprocal Health Agreement with the Isle of Man are calculated”.

The current mechanism dates back to 2004/05. At that time, the Isle of Man Government provided the total costs for treating UK visitors for that year. The total amount, £2.21m, was used to form the basis of an additional allocation to the Isle of Man for elective treatment in the UK. This figure has typically been uprated by 6% annually since then and no further data has been exchanged. Prior to 2004/05, the allocation was uncapped.

Figures for the level of allocation provided over the last five years are shown in the following table:

2008/09	£2.80m
2007/08	£2.65m
2006/07	£2.50m
2005/06	£2.35m
2004/05	£2.21m

We note that this request was resubmitted, following the Department’s previous refusal to answer this request, and two others, under s12 of the FOI Act. You also requested an internal review of our response, and the outcome of the internal review will be sent to you separately.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:

Head of the Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health
Room 317
Richmond House
79 Whitehall,
London
SW1A 2NS

Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xxx.xx

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Department. The ICO can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Lynn Swyny
FOI Case Manager
Department of Health