Dear Dr Bhatia

I am writing in response to your request for information, made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which was received on 5^th February, 2009.

Your request was: Request of 5^th February, 2009

PULSE has reported how NHS Lincolnshire have insisted that GPs in

the first wave of their rollout send the PCT a list of patients who

have opted out of the SCR programme, with the intention of the PCT

inviting them `to the surgery to discuss it further'.

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=23&storycode=4121758&c=1

• Please could you let me know if your PCT has ever asked GP

practices (pilot or otherwise) to send you identifiable details of

patients who have opted out of the SCR (that is, other than just

the total number of patients who have opted out per practice).

• If so, please could you let me know the total number of patients

whose identifiable details have been sent to you.

We have never asked GP Practices to send us identifiable details of patients who have opted out of the SCR, therefore no identifiable details have been sent to anyone on the project.

The PCT would, however, like to draw your attention to the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005, which sets out rules for allowing individuals, including companies, the right to re-use public sector information for commercial or non-commercial purposes.

Should you wish to re-use the information supplied by the PCT, for commercial or non-commercial purposes you must apply, in writing, providing your full contact details, specify which document(s)/information you wish to re-use, and the purposes for which the document(s)/information is to be re-used.

The Trust will respond to your application for re-use within 20 working days.

Yours sincerely

Tim Huggett

Acting Patient Experience & Customer Care Manager

Chief Executive: Pam Court Chair: Derek Morrison

Registered Head Office: Phoenix Court, Christopher Martin Road,

Basildon, Essex, SS14 3HG. Telephone: 01268 705000, Fax: 01268 705100

www.swessexpct.nhs.uk