Malarone & NHS prescriptions

Alex Skene made this Freedom of Information request to Lewisham Primary Care Trust (PCT)

The request was partially successful.

From: Alex Skene

10 May 2008

Dear Sir or Madam,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Please could you provide all background documents, advice etc (in
electronic format if possible) behind the decision to allow
anti-malarial drug atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) to be prescribed
on the NHS in the Lewisham PCT area.

Additionally, what is the cost for providing this service compared
to treating malaria patients returning from malarial areas?

Yours faithfully,

Alex Skene

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From: Lesley Aitken

10 May 2008

I am out of the office until Monday 12 May. If your message is urgent
please contact; Tuesday to Thursday Sandra Manners 020 7206 3359 or
Friday Cassy Thorpe on 020 7206 3345.

For items for the SMT meeting on 13 May please contact Cassy.

Thanks

Lesley

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From: Alex Skene

10 June 2008

Dear Lewisham PCT

I don't seem to have had an acknowledgement for my FOI request sent
10th May 2008 - please see
<<http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ma...>>
- I'd be very grateful if you could let me know when a response
would be due. By my calculations, the 20 workings days allowed for
a response ends today.

Many thanks
Alex Skene

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From: Lesley Aitken

10 June 2008

Dear Alex

I apologise as I seem to have missed your request. I always
acknowledge within a couple of days. I'll send your request to my
colleagues now and ask for a swift response.

Sorry again.

Lesley

Lesley Aitken
Head of Corporate Office/Board Secretary
Lewisham PCT
3rd Floor, Cantilever House
Eltham Road
London SE12 8RN
Direct Line: (020) 7206 3360
Fax: (020) 7206 3350
[email address]

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The information contained in this email may be
subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Unless the information contained in this email is legally exempt from
disclosure, we cannot guarantee that we will not provide the whole or
part of this email, to a third pary making a request for information
about the subject matter of this email.

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From: Alex Skene

13 July 2008

Dear Lesley,

I was wondering how you were progressing with my FOI request?

<<http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ma...>>

Kind regards,

Alex Skene

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From: Lesley Aitken

15 July 2008

Attachment 227 response.doc
31K Download View as HTML

Dear Alex

Please find attached the response to your FOI request. Please accept
my apologies for the lateness of the reply.

Lesley

Lesley Aitken
Head of Corporate Office/Board Secretary
Lewisham PCT
3rd Floor, Cantilever House
Eltham Road
London SE12 8RN
Direct Line: (020) 7206 3360
Fax: (020) 7206 3350
[email address]

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The information contained in this email may be
subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Unless the information contained in this email is legally exempt from
disclosure, we cannot guarantee that we will not provide the whole or
part of this email, to a third pary making a request for information
about the subject matter of this email.

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From: Alex Skene

15 July 2008

Dear Lesley,

Could I clarify a couple of points you made in your reply?

"In Lewisham PCT a decision was made to allow the prescribing of
antimalarials drugs including atovaquone/proguanil on the NHS
because of the high incidence of patients returning from malarious
areas with the condition."

1) Could you quantify the high incidence?

2) When was the decision made?

"The background document has not yet been ratified therefore is not
available."

3) Could you clarify which exemption under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 are you claiming for this?

"It is not possible to provide comparative costs because the PCT
does not have readily obtainable data on numbers of patients
treated for malaria who return from these areas."

4) What are the costs to the PCT of prescribing antimalarials
(broken down by drug if available)?

Kind regards,

Alex

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From: Lesley Aitken

15 July 2008

Alex

I'll pass your questions back to the department who supplied the
information.

Lesley

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From: Lesley Aitken

15 July 2008

Hi Eileen

Is it possible to provide answers to the questions below please.

Thanks

Lesley

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From: Alex Skene

21 August 2008

Dear Lesley,

Any news on my FOI request? You're currently in breach of Section
10(1) of the FOI Act as it's way over 20 working days since I
submitted the request.

<<http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ma...>>

Kind regards,

Alex Skene

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From: Lesley Aitken

21 August 2008

Dear Alex

I have contacted the relevant service and will have a response to you
within the next couple of days.

Lesley

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From: Lesley Aitken

26 August 2008

Alex

Please see the response to your request below:

1. Could you quantify the high incidence? No, the decision was made
some time ago under the Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority
(LSLHA) and we do not have access to the data it was based on.

2. When was the decision made? We do not have the exact year as it was
inherited from the days of the existence of LSLHA.

3. Could you clarify which exemption under the FOIA 2000 are you
claiming for this? The document cannot be released as it is still in its
draft stages.

4. What are the costs of the PCT of prescribing antimalarials? The
costs of prescribing antimalarials would only be accessed through data
held by the Prescription Pricing Authority and not by the PCT directly.

Yours sincerely

Lesley Aitken

Lesley Aitken
Head of Corporate Office/Board Secretary
Lewisham PCT
3rd Floor, Cantilever House
Eltham Road
London SE12 8RN
Direct Line: (020) 7206 3360
Fax: (020) 7206 3350
[email address]

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The information contained in this email may be
subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Unless the information contained in this email is legally exempt from
disclosure, we cannot guarantee that we will not provide the whole or
part of this email, to a third pary making a request for information
about the subject matter of this email.

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From: Alex Skene

3 October 2008

Dear Lesley,

Many thanks for the email you sent on 26 August, and apologies for
the time it's taken for my reply. I'd like to thank you for
providing the details of the PPA - they were able to quickly send
me the prescribing information. If you're interested, the results
can be found here:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ma...

Regarding your answers to #1 and #2, I would like to know which of
the 3 PCTs formed from LSLHA "inherited" its official records and
documents? I guess this means either Southwark PCT or Lambeth PCT?

Regarding #3, I would like to formally request an Internal Review
in accordance with the FOIA Section 45 Code of Practice on the
following basis:

* Breach of FOIA Section 17 - a refusal notice has not been
correctly provided stating which absolute or qualified exemption
has been relied on, together with any relevant prejudice or public
interest test.

Kind regards,

Alex Skene

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From: Alex Skene

30 October 2008

Dear Lesley,

Please could you confirm receipt of my request of 3rd October for
an Internal Review for your answer to #3 that you provided on 26th
August. In case you overlooked this or did not receive the mail, I
am copying it again below:

=========================

Regarding #3, I would like to formally request an Internal Review
in accordance with the FOIA Section 45 Code of Practice on the
following basis:

* Breach of FOIA Section 17 - a refusal notice has not been
correctly provided stating which absolute or qualified exemption
has been relied on, together with any relevant prejudice or public
interest test.

=========================

Full correspondence can be followed at
<<http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/ma...>>

Many thanks,

Alex Skene

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From: Lesley Aitken

30 October 2008

Dear Alex

I have just looked through my inbox and I can assure you that I did not
receive your email of 3 October. I will respond to the issues you have
raised after further investigation.

Lesley

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From: Lesley Aitken

19 November 2008

Attachment 227 antimalarials on NHS.doc
33K Download View as HTML

Attachment 227 PH Malaria letter.doc
73K Download View as HTML

Attachment 227 letter to Alex Skene 18nov08.pdf
428K Download View as HTML

Dear Mr Skene

Please find attached the response to your request for an internal
review.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to
contact me or the investigating officer.

Lesley

Lesley Aitken
Head of Corporate Office/Board Secretary
Lewisham PCT
3rd Floor, Cantilever House
Eltham Road
London SE12 8RN
Direct Line: (020) 7206 3360
Fax: (020) 7206 3350
[email address]

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION The information contained in this email may be
subject to public disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Unless the information contained in this email is legally exempt from
disclosure, we cannot guarantee that we will not provide the whole or
part of this email, to a third pary making a request for information
about the subject matter of this email.

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Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Lewisham Primary Care Trust (PCT) only: