Hundreds of responses have so far been received from 7,000 households that were sent a survey exploring the health and lifestyles of Island residents.  With the deadline of midnight on Sunday 11 December looming, the Department of Health and Social Care is urging as many of the targeted households as possible to complete the survey. 

The survey requests that one resident from each household complete the 20 – 30 minute survey online using the unique code on the invitation letter, which can only be used once.  Households have been chosen at random using the publically available property database to ensure the information gathered is representative of the Island’s population.

A reminder letter has been sent this week by the Public Health Directorate encouraging the selected households to take part.  As the survey is anonymous the reminder has been sent to all 7,000 households as there is no way to determine which households have and have not made a submission.

The results of the survey will provide valuable information on the health and wellbeing of the population and will help shape cross-government policies that will impact on the health and wellbeing of the community.

All answers disclosed in the survey are completely anonymous and information is treated in strict confidence, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2002. Whilst the first three digits of respondents’ postcodes will be requested, this does not identify residences and no attempt will be made to link the information back to specific households.

Taking part in the survey is voluntary and respondents can choose which questions they feel comfortable answering.

Those who receive a letter but have limited or no internet access can collect a paper copy of the survey – upon production of their invitation letter – from one of the following locations:

•         Welcome Centre, Sea Terminal, Douglas
•         Henry Bloom Noble Library, Douglas
•         Leonard Cheshire Disability, Onchan
•         Ramsey Town Library
•         Port Erin Library
•         Ward Library, Peel.

In addition, Leonard Cheshire Disability, based above Onchan Library, will provide access to their computer suite and help in completing the survey if needed.

Further information is available online at www.gov.im/healthandlifestylesurvey or from the Public Health Directorate by telephoning 642639 or emailing publichealth.dhsc@gov.im.