Trust losses and special payments: FOIA

The request was partially 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

Freedom of Information Requests, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Amin

Thank you for your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Please find attached the response from South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, I apologise for this late response

If you are unhappy with the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a review by writing to: Private Office, South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, Harton Wing, Harton Lane, South Shields, NE34 0PL or via email at [email address] .

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of your request or complaint, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: The Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF. Telephone: 0303 123 1113 Website: www.ico.org.uk. There is no charge for making an appeal.

The Commissioner’s Office will not normally hear a complaint until the internal complaints procedure has been completed.

I hope that this is helpful.

PLEASE NOTE THE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR FOI REQUESTS – [email address]

Yours sincerely
Freedom of Information
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

Freedom of Information
South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

Based at:
Harton Wing
South Tyneside District Hospital
Harton Lane
South Shields
NE34 0PL

Telephone: 0191 4041000
Email: [email address]

Providing a range of NHS services across Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland

The information contained in this e-mail is confidential and is intended only for the named recipient.  If you are not the named recipient you must not copy or distribute this message, please notify the sender of the error.  Any unauthorised disclosure of the information contained within this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

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