Request
Dear NHS East Midlands
This is a Freedom of information request for information about work which I understand is being undertaken by Dr Colin Dale or his company, Caring Solutions Ltd, for your authority.
Please can you send me a copy of the framework agreement which I understand you have reached with him in 2009.
I understand Dr Dale and his company has been commissioned to undertake several homicide inquiry investigations by your Authority.
A listing by incident date and mental health trust of all outstanding inquiries currently underway in the East Midlands is given on your website. Please can you tell me with which of these investigations Dr Dale or his company is currently involved.
Please can you also tell me whether the work was put out to tender and how much the value of the contract is.
I hope this is reasonably clear but please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.
I understand that under current Freedom of Information legislation you will acknowledge my request and reply formally within 20 working days.
Our Response
I refer to your email requesting information in respect of Caring Solutions Ltd.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do hold the information that you have requested.
Caring Solutions is currently conducting four independent investigations on behalf of NHS East Midlands. They all concernNorthamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and the incidents were dated:
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07 November 2006
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19 May 2007
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01 January 2008; and
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11 September 2008.
NHS East Midlands operates a Framework Agreement in terms of this contract, a pdf copy of which is attached. Organisations who are part of this agreement were selected through a tendering process and demonstrated they had the skills to undertake investigations under HSG(94)27.
When NHS East Midlands has determined that independent investigations should be commissioned, organisations on the Framework Agreement are invited to submit a quote and outline their approach to that particular case. These submissions are evaluated to determine best fit and value for money for that particular case/ group of cases and then the independent investigators are appointed.
The total value of the contract is £165,554 but this figure includes disbursements such as venue hire, transcription services and travel. This figure can be broken down as follows:
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Incident date 07 November 2006 - £34,850 + £9,484 disbursements
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Incident date 19 May 2007 - £33,050 + £5,262 disbursements
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Incident date 01January 2008 - £37,850 + £7,422 disbursements
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Incident date 11 September 2008 - £30,250 + £7,386 disbursements
I would like to point out to you that in accordance with Department of Health guidance, NHS East Midlands is responsible for commissioning independent investigations. However, the cost of investigations are re-charged to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) responsible for commissioning the care and treatment of the mental health service user. In this case, NHS Northamptonshire will be paying the costs of the four investigations.
I hope that this information is of use. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request you can ask us to review our decision by writing to:-
Mr Moosa Patel
Director of Corporate Affairs
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
