uda rates

The request was partially successful.

Dear Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT),

Under the Freedom of Information Act, please can you provide the
answers to the following questions:

1. What is the total number of dentists in your area who have a contract with the PCT to provide NHS services?

2. What the UDA rates are for the practice and the annual contract value and number of UDAs required for 09/10

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you

Yours faithfully,

a.amin

Andrew Lall, Ealing Primary Care Trust (PCT)

Dear Mr Amin

Re: Freedom of Information Request

I am writing to confirm receipt of your request for information from NHS North West London.

I am currently liaising with the appropriate Directorates to establish whether the PCT holds this information. The deadline for receiving a response under the Freedom of Information Act is 25 October 2011.

Under the Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 3244 The Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, NHS North West London is entitled to make a charge for copies of information held. I will contact you further if this is likely to be the case with your request.

Andrew Lall
Freedom of Information Officer
NHS North West London 
[email address]
Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT
Direct Line: 020 7932 1946
www.northwestlondon.nhs.uk

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FOI (NHS NW London),

Dear Mr Amin,

Please find below a response to your FOI request:

Total contracts 47
Total contracted UDAs £556,168

With regard to the UDA rates for each practice and annual contract value please see the response below.

The information you are requesting is exempt from disclosure under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

It is considered that the release of the requested information is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of NHS North West London. The release of such information is likely to deter a number dental practices from entering into contracts with the NHS. This would will negatively effect the NHS in engaging in commercial activity and carrying out its function of delivering effective health care provision to the public.

The Public Interest Test

In considering the application of the section 43 exemption it is necessary to consider the balance of the public interest for and against disclosure.

Public Interest for disclosure

As the NHS is funded through public money it is especially important that its commissioning and spending activities are scrutinised and held to high account. Disclosure of the information would enable the public to see how much money is being spent on dentists from taxpayers’ money.

Public Interest against disclosure

It is not in the public interest for a national organisation such as the NHS to be prejudiced in engaging in commercial activity. Disclosure would lead to a risk of the NHS being unable to effectively commission services and ensure that patients have access to a wide choice of dentists.

The balance of the public interest

Whilst disclosure may give the public an insight in to how money is being spent on the provision of dental services, there are other avenues in which NHS spending is being scrutinised and made transparent, i.e. published budgets for general spending within the NHS.

Therefore, in considering the balance it is considered that the public interest lies against disclosure.

Right to a review

If you are not satisfied by the outcome of your request you have a right to an internal review. This review will be carried out by a different member of my team. If you would like a review please write in citing ‘Request for Internal Review’. You should expect to receive a response to your request for review within 20 working days.

If the review upholds the decision and you remain unsatisfied you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office at:

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

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Lall
Freedom of Information Officer
NHS North West London
[email address]
Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QT
Direct Line: 020 7932 1947
www.northwestlondon.nhs.uk

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