Overseas visitor management teams in NHS trusts

The request was successful.

Dear Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust,

I write to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on how you have instituted overseas patient charging and the costs of your overseas visitor management team at your trust, if you have one. Please can you tell me:

1) Whether you have an overseas visitor management team or a similar team? If NOT, who then is in charge of overseas patient charging in your trust in line with changes advised in the Department of Health's Draft guidance on implementing the overseas visitor charging regulations, 2017?

2) What is the cost of the current team for the preceding year, or if established only recently following the changes in 2017, its cost of set up and estimated costs for 2017/2018? (Note: this cost could include salaries, but also overheads including facilities and equipment used).

3) What, if any, charges have been levied to overseas patients in your trust by this team, and how much of this has been recouped?

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Steele

Freedom Of Information Requests (LCFT), Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Dear Sarah

Thank you for your enquiry. As per the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 you will be sent a response within twenty working days i.e. 11th October 2017 For all future correspondence please quote the reference shown in the subject line above.

Regards
 
Sue Stone
Information Governance Specialist & RA Agent
 
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust
Phone: 01772 695300
e-mail:  [email address]
post address:   Sceptre Point, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6AW

Freedom Of Information Requests (LCFT), Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Hi Sarah
The Trust response to your recent FOI request is as follows:

1) Whether you have an overseas visitor management team or a similar team? If NOT, who then is in charge of overseas patient charging in your trust in line with changes advised in the Department of Health's Draft guidance on implementing the overseas visitor charging regulations, 2017?

We do not have an overseas Visitor Management team. The Clinical Service liaise with the Income & Contract accountant who provides advise using the NHSE charging guidance and tools from the DH Exchange shared resource space.

2) What is the cost of the current team for the preceding year, or if established only recently following the changes in 2017, its cost of set up and estimated costs for 2017/2018? (Note: this cost could include salaries, but also overheads including facilities and equipment used).

Nil. The function is carried out within existing roles

3) What, if any, charges have been levied to overseas patients in your trust by this team, and how much of this has been recouped?

Nil. Overseas visitor activity to date has been exempt from charge

If you are unhappy with the way the Trust has handled your request, you may ask for an internal review by contacting the FOI Lead at [email address]
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Fax: 01625 524 510

Regards

Duncan Shand
Senior Health Records Archive Officer
Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust

T: 01524 550502
E: [email address]
W: www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk
P: Health Records Archive Store | Guild Park | Whittingham Lane | Preston | PR3 2JH |