Surgical procedures and post-operation infections (FOI)

​Request

Please kindly provide:

A

The number of operations carried out in Jersey over the past five years, broken down by year.

B

The number of post-operation infections picked up over the past five years, broken down by year.

C

Please indicate the number of these that were 'superbugs' (infections resistant to standard antibiotics).

D

If possible under Freedom of Information regulations, please break this figure down further by listing the type of infections.

Response

A

The total number of procedures is detailed in the table below:

B

Data in regard to the number of cases of ‘surgical infection’ in patients who underwent surgery in Jersey General Hospital is not routinely recorded, with the exception of hip and knee surgery.

For the years 2015 to 2017, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 (the Law) has been applied as the required data has been provided through a previous Freedom of Information response available at the following link:

Surgical infection rates (FOI)

Due to the small numbers of knee and hip replacement surgery patients that presented with a post-operative infection in 2014, Article 25 of the Law has been applied. This is to protect the privacy of the individuals.

C and D

Due to the small number of instance of multi-resistant organisms recorded at Health and Social Services, Article 25 of the Law has been applied to this request in order to protect the privacy of individuals.

However, a previous Freedom of Information response providing data relating to ‘superbugs’ can be found through the following link:

Multi-resistant Organisms (FOI)

Multi-resistant Organisms (FOI)

Exemptions applied

Article 23 Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.

Article 25 Personal information

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject as defined in the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2005.

(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.