Cancer deaths and treatment among 0 to 16 year old patients in Jersey and respite facilities (FOI)

​Request

A.

How many children (0 to 16 years) died from cancer and life limiting illnesses in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

B.

How many children (0 to 16 years) were treated for cancer and life limiting illnesses in 2012, 2013 and 2014 on Island and off Island.

C.

How many children (0 to 16 years) are currently being treated for cancer and life limiting illnesses on Island and off Island.

D.

What respite facilities or funding has been provided to families with terminally ill children in 2012, 2013 and 2014. What services do family nursing provide to these patients.

Clarification of the Request

The Department responding to your request has advised that it will not be able to answer your request without further clarification. For your information, under Article 2 (1)(d) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, a ”request for information” must describe in adequate detail the information requested and, under Article 14, a scheduled public authority may request to be supplied with further details of the information so that the authority may identify and locate the information.

Please specify the ‘life limiting’ illnesses you would like the Department to investigate.

The applicant replied as follows: “Edit ‘life limiting’ to refer to any form of cancer.”

Response

A.

Died of cancer:
In 2012: <5
In 2013: <5
In 2014: 0

B.

Treated for cancer:
In 2012: 10
In 2013: 8
In 2014: 10

C.

Currently:

• <5 children are receiving treatment for cancer
• <5 children with cancer are receiving treatment off-Island
• <5 children (with cancer) have relapsed and are palliative

Notes:

Standard cancer treatments without relapse can last from 6 months to 3 years. Also, the Department currently has 13 children that have completed cancer treatment but still require follow-up appointments. Some are facing late side effects from cancer treatment and therefore require some treatment and/or investigations.

<5 response: given the small numbers this would constitute patient identifiable information. Therefore, part of this request is exempt under article 25 (2) of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011.

D.

Respite facilities are not specifically provided to families with terminally ill children. However, Health and Social Services provide ‘community short breaks’ and ‘residential short breaks’ for children with profound multiple disabilities and/or learning difficulties. Within the Hospital, children who are dying of cancer will be supported by Hospital staff. Family Nursing provide paediatric community nursing support for children and their families.

Exemption

25 Personal information 

(2) Information is absolutely exempt information if:

(a) it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is not the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005; and

(b) its supply to a member of the public would contravene any of the data protection principles, as defined in that Law.