Trust losses and special payments: FOIA

The request was successful.

Dear Sir or Madam,

This is a FOIA request. The Trust is required to provide information on losses and special payments in its annual report. I am writing to request additional, more detailed information regarding these losses and payments. I am making this request because I believe there is a clear and compelling public interest in understanding more about the types of losses and special payments the Trust makes.

1. Losses and special payments

Please provide a copy of your losses and special payments register or database for the year 2016-17. I would expect this information to include, but not necessarily be limited to:

a) Category of loss or special payment (e.g. bad debt, fruitless payment, compensation payment made under legal obligation) as defined in relevant losses and special payments policy or procedure documents.
b) A summary of the loss
c) Amount paid out in £ Sterling (or other currency)
d) Debtor name (where that debtor is a company or disclosure of a person’s name is permitted by the data protection provisions of s.40)

2. Bad debts

a) Please state how much bad debt was written off in the year 2016-17.
b) If, and only if, you hold the information in an easily retrievable format, i.e. not in individual case files, please state how much of this bad debt was non-NHS and/or private patient debt write offs and/or overseas visitors related.

This request is only concerned with information which is easily exportable and does not require the Trust to review individual case files, which might trigger the cost threshold (s.12). I am interested in any and all relevant information which is easily exportable and that provides greater clarity on how losses were accrued and special payments were made, but which is not published in your annual report. The information I am requesting should not, therefore, be caught by s.21 or s.22.

If you consider that some information is exempt from disclosure please cite the section of the FOIA you are using to redact information. Please also ensure any redactions you make are sufficiently granular and do not withhold information on a 'blanket' basis. When applying exemptions which contain a public interest test, please also explain, in line with the guiding principles of the Information Tribunal, how the public interest would be, or would be likely to be, materially prejudiced by disclosure.

I would be grateful if you could be mindful of your statutory duty to provide advice and assist to requesters (s.16) when responding to this request. I would prefer to receive all information electronically and in machine-readable formats (such as .xls) where applicable. I would also be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this request.

Thank you for the time you will invest in providing a response.

Gratefully,

Lucas Amin

Frost, Nicky,

Thank you for your email.
Please note I will be out of the office, from Tuesday 5 September 2017 returning on Tuesday 12 September 2017.
Therefore, please forward ALL FOI requests and any other urgent issues to both:
The information governance team [email address]<mailto:[email address]> and

Tracey Kalp, Information Governance Coordinator, email: [email address] or call on extn 7023

Please note any FOI requests which are not forwarded to the above email address will not be Actioned until my return.

All other non-urgent issues will be actioned on my return, thank you.

Frost, Nicky,

Dear Mr Amin

Thank you for your email requesting information about Trust losses and special payments. Your request was emailed on 5th September 2017 whilst I was on leave. This period covered 5th September 2017 to 11th September 2017 inclusive and during this time my mailbox was not monitored by anyone else. Unfortunately your email does not appear to have been forwarded to either of the alternative email addresses that were given in my ‘Out Office’ message. Therefore, the date of receipt for your request will be taken as of my return to the office

Your request is currently being dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. You request is being considered and you will receive a response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days following the date on which the request was received, as defined by the Act, subject to the information not being covered by an exemption or containing reference to a third party.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent release of some or all of the information you have requested. There will be an assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the case, including your rights of appeal.

If the information you request contains reference to a third party then they may be consulted prior to a decision being taken on whether or not to release some or all of the information to you. You will be informed if this is the case.

There may be a fee payable for this information. This will be considered and you will be informed if as fee is payable. In this event the fee must be paid before the information is processed and released. The 20 working day time limit for responses is suspended until receipt of payment. You will be informed if this is the case.

If you have any further queries or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Further information about your rights is also available from the Information Commissioner at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545700
Web Address: www.ico.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Nicola Frost
IG and FOI Administrator
Governance Unit I 1st Floor I Education Centre

Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Prittlewell Chase I Westcliff-on-Sea I Essex I SS0 0RY
Tel: 01702 435555 ext 6455 I Email: [email address]
Visit our website: www.southend.nhs.uk

 Before printing, please think of the environment
This e-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies; please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance on its contents to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
Content of emails received by this Trust will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the specified exemptions, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldicott Guardian principles.

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Frost, Nicky,

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Amin

I am writing in respect of your enquiry for information held by Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We have now processed your request, please find enclosed our response.

If you have any further queries or concerns then please do not hesitate to contact us.

Nicola Frost
IG and FOI Administrator
Governance Unit I 1st Floor I Education Centre

Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Prittlewell Chase I Westcliff-on-Sea I Essex I SS0 0RY
Tel: 01702 435555 ext 6455 I Email: [email address]
Visit our website: www.southend.nhs.uk

 Before printing, please think of the environment
This e-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies; please do not disclose, copy or distribute information in this e-mail or take any action in reliance on its contents to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
Content of emails received by this Trust will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to the specified exemptions, including the Data Protection Act 1998 and Caldicott Guardian principles.

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