FOI 1675 – Evidence for Derbyshire Telegraph Article

Response

Date: 1 January 202X

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – DECISION NOTICE

Dear Sir / Madam,

FOI Reference Number: 1675

I refer to your email of 18 October 2022 in respect of our letter to you, dated the same day, in response to your FOI request for evidence to support the statements made by NHS Derby and Derbyshire in a Derbyshire Live news article dated 17 July 2022.

I am writing to inform you that this letter serves as a refusal notice under Section 17 (5) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (DDICB) will not take any further action with regards to this request for information, in accordance with the exemption permitted to us under Section 14 of the FOIA: vexatious requests.

Your original FOI Request, dated 19 September 2022

Under the FOI Act provide evidence for a remarkably laughable delusional claim. I genuinely look forward to seeing this

——- Original Message ——-
On Monday, July 18th, 2022

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/claim-derbyshire-gps-book-almost-7339492

Hello

Please see above link – a most remarkable level of delusion never seen before or incredible utter lies from a senior NHS Manager who claimed 43% of GP appointments across Derbyshire are booked the same day they are seen. I know six GP’s who between them feel 8% would be factually accurate. I fail to see how a Senior NHS Manager can remarkably make this claim at a minuted meeting unless she is delusional or not afraid to make utter lies knowing it is not in even 1% possible. I want this formally looking into ASAP please and challenging as it is too incredible a claim for words. People in a high secure hospital would not make these claims!!

Our original response dated 18 October 2022:

The data provided to the Derbyshire County Council’s improvement and scrutiny committee for health, as quoted in the article at the link that you have provided, was correct and based on official statistics provided by NHS Digital. This data specifically refers to the number of appointments which have been booked for the same day as a proportion of total bookings over a given month. This proportion has remained between 40-45% each month since December 2021, and the original source data is attached covering the timescale February 2020 to July 2022.

We recognise that this data does not provide insight into the proportion of calls to general practices which lead to an appointment on the same day. This data is not currently reported by NHS Digital.

The data can be accessed online at the following location:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practice

I hope that this answers your queries with the information we currently hold, but if I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.

Covering email to our original response, dated 18 October 2022.

Ref. 1675
Dear requester,

Please see attached response from Derby and Derbyshire ICB to your request for information, as below.

We understand that some issues can generate concern and strong feelings, which sometimes reflect in the wording of the Freedom of Information Requests we receive. As a separate note to our formal response we would respectfully point out that the language and tone in your request caused some distress to our colleague referenced in your email, as all the information presented was shared in the context of honesty and transparency.

Regards,
FOI Team
NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board / Joined Up Care Derbyshire
First Floor, Cardinal Square, 10 Nottingham Road, Derby DE1 3QT

E: ddicb.foi@nhs.net
W: https://joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk/derbyshire-integrated-care-board/

Your further email dated 18 October 2022:

Absolute joke. How on earth can/is this person suitable for their post and how on earth can you claim this to be correct? Formal review request needed as you are also delusional expecting me to fall for such lies regarding the figures/claim. No wonder there is uproar regarding this.

Our response:

Your FOI request was answered fully, correctly and within the statutory 20 working day timescale. Our response comprised all the information that the ICB hold in response to your request and pointed to a reliable, publicly accessible source which backs up the numbers quoted. We believe it is therefore a matter for you to take up with NHS England and NHS Digital if you wish to question how these organisations collect their figures.

Your language in your original FOI request, including unsubstantiated allegations of wrong doing by ICB staff, was unacceptable and distressing to staff. In our covering email for our original response we outlined our concerns about the way you framed your previous request, however your approach and allegations remained the same in your further email.

Therefore, under Section 14 of the FOIA as above, the ICB will not be taking any further action with regards to this FOI request.

The ICB will be prepared to accept further FOI requests from you, on condition that you moderate your language and approach. We may refuse as vexatious any future requests that are framed in a similar way.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioners Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF,
Telephone 0303 123 1113
Email casework@ico.org.uk

All information we have provided is subject to the provisions of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015. Accordingly, if the information has been made available for re-use under the Open Government Licence (OGL) a request to re-use is not required, but the licence conditions must be met. You must not re-use any previously unreleased information without having the consent from the ICB. Should you wish to re-use previously unreleased information then you must make your request in writing (email will suffice) to the FOI Lead via ddccg.foi@nhs.net. All requests for re-use will be responded to within 20 working days of receipt.