Dear Mr Mills

Re: Freedom of Information

I am writing regarding your request for information, which I received on 11 November 2008. In that request, you asked us for “Prescription Pricing Authority's figures for the number and value of FP10 prescriptions in each Acute Trust this year and for previous years?”.

The Authority reasonably requires further information in order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for. I will not be able to take this matter further without extra information from you. In particular, it would be useful to know what you mean by prescribing in each Acute Trust. We do not hold information relating to prescriptions prescribed and dispensed within an Acute trust. However, we do hold information on hospital prescriptions that are dispensed within the community. These units may be managed by a Hospital Trust or a Primary Care Trust. We hold 60 rolling months of prescribing data for Acute Trusts that have chosen to use community dispensing as well as hospital dispensing.

Please note that if I do not receive appropriate clarification of your information requirements within three months from the date of this letter, then I will consider your request closed.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of my decision, you should write to:-

Gordon Wanless

Information Governance Manager

NHS Business Services Authority

Bridge House

152 Pilgrim Street

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 6SN

If you are not content with the outcome of 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 Authority.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:-

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545 745

Fax: 01625 524 510

Email: [email address]

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please quote the reference number overleaf in any future communications to make it easier for me to deal with your correspondence.

Yours sincerely

Chris Gooday

Senior Specialist in Informatics

Email: [email address]

Cc: Gordon Wanless, Information Governance Manager

Fiona Punchard, Communications Manager

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Chairman: Paul Rich

Chief Executive: Nick Scholte