(BSTP) – Shared Services Project

The request was successful.

Dear South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland),

In a report to the HSC BSO Board dated 24 April 2014 covering the period from 21/03/2014 to 24/04 2014 the Programme Director reported that at the BSTP board meeting on 7 April the transfer of the Accounts Payable (AP) function from SEHSCT and SHSCT to Shared Services was discussed and it was agreed that due to the significant backlog of unprocessed invoices that the transfer date will be rolled back for up to 2 months to allow progress to be made in addressing the backlog.

In his response to an Assembly written question (AQW 34335/11-15)Minister Poots quantified the backlog both in terms of volume and value(£) of the unprocessed invoices.

The Programme Director further reported that with regard to
payments the Shared Services Centre (SSC) were struggling to stay on top of work load as much of the resources are allocated to resolve inherited issues (legacy invoices).

Please treat this communication as a Freedom of Information request and quantify the backlog both in terms of
volume and value(£) of these unpaid unresolved legacy invoices as at both the 30 April 2014 and 30 June 2014 which the Trust was endeavouring to resolve prior to the payment function being transferred to the Shared Services Centre (SSC)?

Please acknowledge receipt of this request.

Yours faithfully,

Gavin Knox

FOI Request, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Mr Knox,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Shared Services Project

 

Thank you for your email regarding the above. Your request was received on
12 July 2014 and I am dealing with it under the terms of the above
legislation.

 

The leaflet enclosed tells you about the legislation and the procedures we
will follow in handling your request.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please do not hesitate to
contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any
future communications.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Information Governance Team

 

 

FOI Request, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Mr Knox,

 

Freedom of Information Act 2000 – Shared Services Project

 

I am writing to advise you that we need to extend the time limit for
responding to your request for information which the Department received
on 12 July 2014.

 

As explained in paragraph six of the leaflet enclosed with my
acknowledgement email , occasionally it is necessary to extend our 20
working day time limit for issuing a response.  In the case of your
request, we must extend the time limit. I hope to let you have a response
as soon as possible.

 

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.  Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

 

Kind regards

 

Information Governance Team

 

 

Dear FOI Request,

On the 11 August 2014 you indicated the Trust would require more time before responding to my FoI request of 12 July 2014.

Now that a further week has passed can I ask that you either provide the Trust's response or indicate the nature of the issue that is causing this delay.

Interestingly Southern HSC Trust were able to respond to a similar request within the 20 working day limit set by statute.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin Knox

Dear FOI Request,

My request of 12 July 2014 remains unanswered and the Trust's breach of its obligations under the Freedom of Information legislation remains.

Can I again ask that you provide the Trust's response or alternatively indicate the nature of the issue causing the long delay.

In view of the Trust's apparent lack of concern at its failure to respond to my Freedom of Information request a copy of this email will be forwarded to [email address]. This will alert ICO to your Trust's failings with regards this Freedom of Information request.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin Knox

FOI Request, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

Dear Mr Knox,

Please accept my apologies for not coming back to you sooner.

In order to process your request the finance department requires clarification on the definition of backlogs/old legacy queries. Once clarification is received your request will be progress as a matter of urgency.

Kind regards

FOI team

show quoted sections

Dear FOI Request,

Your delayed response to my FoI request refers.

I would assume the definition of backlog should be the same as adopted by Southern HSC Trust in its response to FoI2014/378 namely:
"backlog in terms of trade invoices unpaid in excess of the Public Sector Payment Target of 30 days from date of invoice".

Perhaps it would be more accurate receipt of the invoice the backlog was calculated as above but 30 days from date of first receipt of the invoice.

I trust you can provide the Trust's response with a minimum of delay as the Trust's handling to date of this request has been woeful and displayed little regard to statutory obligations imposed by the legislation.

Yours sincerely,

Gavin Knox

FOI Request, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (Northern Ireland)

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Knox,

 

Please see attached response from the South Eastern H&SC Trust in relation
to your request for information received on 13 July 2014.  Please accept
my sincere apologies for the delay in providing the attached response.

 

Kind Regards

FOI team