Dear Yohannes

Reference Number FOI 2022 - 1072

Thank you for your request for information from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

We anticipate being able to provide a response within the timescales allowed under the Act.

In the meantime if you have any questions regarding this request please contact us directly quoting the reference number above.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust was formed on 1st April 2017 and comprises of Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital. The Trust also provides community clinics at Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely, Doddington Hospital and North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech. Further information is available via our website www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk.

Any future Freedom of Information requests should be addressed to North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust using the email address below.

Kind Regards

The Freedom of Information Team
Hinchingbrooke Hospital
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
[North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email]

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Ref: FOI/2022/1072

Dear Yohannes

Thank you for your recent enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.
Please find your response detailed below.

Requesters Questions and Trust Response:

1)      Please could you state the number of structural maintenance issues
at hospitals in your trust that are currently outstanding as of the date
of this request (29/09/22). Please state the section of the hospital the
issue was recorded in (e.g. oncology, radiology) using the categorisation
system in your maintenance database.

The Trust currently have approx. 267 specific structural issues across the
two RAAC effected sites, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland
Hospital. Of these a number require a structural reinforcement to ensure
structural integrity where as a majority are managed by more routine
inspections. Most disciplines are effected by the structural issues,
excluding Paediatric services, and a large portion of out-patients. 

2)      Please could you provide a copy of any images held (preferably in
.jpeg format) and videos (preferably in .mov format) of the outstanding
maintenance issues, such as leaking walls, collapsed ceilings, or
temporary structural supports holding up roofs, and the date they were
taken.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) is withholding the
requested images. It is the Trust’s view that this information is exempt
under Section 43 (Trade secrets and prejudice to commercial interests).

This exemption applies to information that would (or would be likely to)
affect the commercial interests of any party. Such information can relate
to the provision of services from third party organisations whose
commercial interests may be prejudiced.

Under the FOI Act 2000 information that may affect a business’ commercial
interests maybe exempt from disclosure. A commercial interest is anything
that affects the business’ ability to work competitively.

Having reviewed the request and subsequently application of the following
exemption; Section 43(2) – Commercial Interests. I am satisfied that the
information is exempt from disclosure.

Section 43 is a qualified class-based exemption and I am therefore
required to articulate the public interest test.

Public Interest Test

Factors favouring disclosure

Where public funds are being spent, there is a public interest in
accountability and justification. In this case to provide the requested
engineers reports would show openness and transparency of expenditure in
this area, which are fundamental principles of the Act.

Disclosure would also ensure that the public are in possession of
sufficient information to determine that appropriate decisions and actions
are made with regard to the stability of the roofs at Hinchingbrooke
Hospital and Stamford Hospital, and the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated
Concrete (RAAC) beams supporting the roof.

Factors favouring non-disclosure

Both North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and third party interests
might be jeopardised by the release of information that relates to
sensitive commercial information and consequently could provide a
competitive edge to other suppliers.

To provide the images requested, could give competitors a significant and
unfair commercial advantage. In addition, the disclosure of such
information could cause unnecessary worry to patients in need of care at
either Hinchingbrooke or Stamford Hospital sites, particularly at a time
when their health is a priority. The information contained in the images
could be misconstrued as they represent only part of a complex and
multifaceted issue.

Balancing test

The use of public funds is a strong factor favouring disclosure as it will
identify that the Trust maintains effective financial management and
procurement to ensure value for money.

However, to disclose information relating to current contracts and costs,
would impact on commercial relationships, impede tried and tested
procurement processes, which would not be benefited by disclosure of this
information.

On balance, the public interest favours non-disclosure. The disclosure of
this information could cause additional worry for patients whose attention
is focused on health issues and the normal stresses associated with
attending a hospital for treatment, without having to concern themselves
with structural issues that are being constantly monitored and mitigated
against.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust comprises of Peterborough City
Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital.  The
Trust also provides community clinics at Princess of Wales Hospital in
Ely, Doddington Hospital and North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech.  Further
information is available via our website [1]www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk.

If you disagree with our decision or are dissatisfied with how we have
dealt with your request in the first instance you may contact me on the
following email address [2][North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email] to request an
internal review.

Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome you have a right under s50
of the Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the decision by
contacting:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

Email: [3][email address]

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

Email: [4][North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email]

[5]www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk

This message may contain legally privileged, confidential, commercial or
patient information intended to be for the use of the individual (s) or
entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please advise
the sender and destroy all copies of the message as you would any other
confidential waste (shredding or incineration for printed-copies, deletion
for electronic copies). Please note that any dissemination, distribution
or copying of this message is strictly prohibited.

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Dear Yohannes

Reference Number OI 2022 - 1360

Thank you for your request for information from North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust.

We anticipate being able to provide a response within the timescales allowed under the Act.

In the meantime if you have any questions regarding this request please contact us directly quoting the reference number above.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust comprises of Peterborough City Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital. The Trust also provides community clinics at Princess of Wales Hospital in Ely, Doddington Hospital and North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech. Further information is available via our website www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk.

Any future Freedom of Information requests should be addressed to North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust using the email address below.

Kind Regards

The Freedom of Information Team
Hinchingbrooke Hospital
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
[North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email]

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Ref: FOI/2022/1360

Dear Yohannes

Thank you for your recent enquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.
Please find your response detailed below.

Requesters Question and Trust Response:

Can you please briefly describe each of the 267 structural issues, telling
me what hospital (and the ward/department) they are found in. Have any of
these issues caused operations to be cancelled and if so how many/what
types?

Please see attached table, which summarises the RAAC panel location, type
of defect/observation and remedial action required, all originating from
our 2019/20 survey of Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

This shows the panels which as of 2019 needed some form of remediation,
185 in total, the remainder of the 267 are managed by monitoring.

Please note that this response has been provided within the 20 working day
timeframe as stipulated in the Act.

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust comprises of Peterborough City
Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Hospital and Stamford & Rutland Hospital.  The
Trust also provides community clinics at Princess of Wales Hospital in
Ely, Doddington Hospital and North Cambs Hospital in Wisbech.  Further
information is available via our website [1]www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk.

If you disagree with our decision or are dissatisfied with how we have
dealt with your request in the first instance you may contact me on the
following email address [2][North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email] to request an
internal review.

Should you remain dissatisfied with the outcome you have a right under s50
of the Freedom of Information Act to appeal against the decision by
contacting:

Information Commissioner

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

SK9 5AF

Phone: 0303 123 1113

Email: [3][email address]

Yours sincerely

FOI Team

Hinchingbrooke Hospital

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust

[4][North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust request email]

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