Our ref: DE434178

 

19 August 2009

 

Dear Mr Rydell

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request of 28 July, which asked if the Department of Health has any contracts with Northgate Information Solutions plc (or NorthgateArinso) and if so, the nature of any such contracts, the value of any such contracts and the date upon which any such contracts were signed.

The Department of Health holds two contracts with Northgate Information Solutions UK Limited, to deliver:

(i) Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Data Administration Services ("Part A" or "Lot 1", signed on 17 February 2009) and

(ii) PROMs Data Aggregation Services ("Part B" or "Lot 2", signed on 23 March 2009).

The key function of the Lot 1, Data Administration Services contract is the printing, distribution, administrative support, collection and conversion into an electronic record of pre-operative questionnaires from all relevant NHS health service providers in England and post-operative questionnaires directly from patients.

The key function of the Lot 2, Data Aggregation Services contract is the ongoing aggregation and review of pseudonymised record-level data into health service provider, commissioner and national level statistics. This includes the development and updating of a casemix and risk adjustment methodology. 

The value of the Lot 1, Data Administration Services contract is estimated to be £4.5m over the period 1 April 2009 to 31March 2012.

The value of the Lot 2, Data Aggregation Services contract is estimated to be £0.8m over the same period.

There is no record held centrally about contracts with NorthgateArinso.

Please be aware that information about contracts signed before July 2008 is not held centrally in the Department.

I hope this reply is helpful.   If you are unhappy with the Department’s handling of the Freedom of Information aspect 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 of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Department.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

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

Please contact me if you have any queries about this email.

Yours sincerely,

Lynn Swyny
FOI Case Manager