Request
Many thanks for your response to my FOI request of 15 March. In light of your response I have reconsidered my request and would like to resubmit a narrowed down request. Therefore, I would be very grateful if you could provide the following information on NHS finances:
Control totals –
I have been unable to find the control total information in the SHA’s board reports as you suggest, it is not reported at individual PCT level.
Financial support - Where the SHA/ PCTs have provided funding, sourced from PCT lodgements, to other PCTs and NHS trusts, please could you provide a list of those PCTs and NHS trusts receiving additional funding and the amount received, for the period 07/08 to 10/11.
I look forward to hearing from you in due course but do please get in touch if you would like to clarify any part of my request.
Our Response
I refer to your email requesting information in respect of NHS Finances.
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. I will address each of your points in turn:
The SHA’s own control total for the years 2007/08 to 2010/11 inclusive
A list showing the initial control totals and the final control totals for all PCTs in the SHA area for the years 2007/08 to 2010/11 inclusive
Financial support - Where the SHA/ PCTs have provided funding, sourced from PCT lodgements, to other PCTs and NHS trusts, please could you provide a list of those PCTs and NHS trusts receiving additional funding and the amount received, for the period 07/08 to 10/11
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Having given further consideration to this section of your request I can confirm that to provide the information requested would still exceed the appropriate costs limit as laid out in section 12 of the FOIA. As previously stated, the limit is currently set at £450 and we estimate that in order to determine whether the information is held, then to locate, retrieve and extract it, would take in excess of 18 hours. At the hourly rate of £25 per person per hour as set by regulation 4 of the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004, this would exceed the costs limit. We therefore remain unable to disclose information to you in this instance as this would place too high a burden on the resources of NHS East Midlands.
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In accordance with our duty under section 16 FOIA to provide advice and assistance, we would like to make you aware that you may resubmit a further refined request which can be handled within the 18 hours fees limit. Please note however that whilst we would not look to discourage you from narrowing your request, it is possible that further exemptions may be applicable which would potentially prevent disclosure.
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
