FOI 1716 – Continuing Healthcare Digital Solutions

Response

Date: 20 December 2022

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION – DECISION NOTICE

Dear Sir / Madam,

FOI Reference Number: 1716

1. Which digital solutions are currently in use within your CHC services across the ICB?

Adam

2. How many users access the solutions on a regular basis?

75-100

3. What is the annual total cost of your current provider?
Less than £15,000 per annum £15,000 – £30,000 per annum £30,000 – £50,000 per annum £50,000 – £80,000 per annum £80,000 + per annum

I can confirm that this information is not held in a way that would enable us to identify costs specific to Derbyshire.
Furthermore, it is our opinion that this information is exempt from disclosure pursuant to section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This section relates to information that is exempt from disclosure that could have a detrimental effect on the commercial interests of “…any person”. Derby and Derbyshire CCG consider that at this time the commercial interests of the CCG, third parties and overall the NHS could be detrimentally impacted upon.
As this section is a qualified exemption, we are obliged to apply the public interest test as below:
Public Interest Test
The CCG recognise that the disclosure of details of costs for specific providers would provide transparency in the use of public funds by the CCG and by the NHS in general. It would also assist the general populace with transparency in decision making by the CCG and their transactions with third parties.
Conversely to the factors demonstrated above in favour of disclosure, it is felt that the CCG, third party suppliers and the NHS in general could be disadvantaged should the information sought be made available. Suppliers compete with one another in a competitive environment and to provide data to this level of detail could allow the supplier to potentially be undercut by competing suppliers. This would lead to loss of confidence by suppliers and could cause significant harm to the CCG.
This disclosure could also adversely impact on any on-going or future procurement processes for the reasons outlined above. Any disclosure by the CCG could in future discourage the provision of commercially sensitive information necessary to respond properly to the CCG’s Invitation to Tender, and would be likely to affect and undermine the CCG’s bargaining position in any future procurement process or negotiations. Ultimately civil action could be taken against the CCG should information be disclosed that adversely affects the commercial interests of current and/or future suppliers. As a result it is our opinion that this sufficiently demonstrates the prejudice which could be caused through disclosure.
Balance Test:
It is important to bear in mind that any disclosure under the FOI Act is a disclosure to the public at large and not just to the applicant. It is recognised that there is a general public interest in the CCG being open and transparent. However, it is not believed that this public interest is served in disclosure for damage that would be caused as outlined above.
Therefore the CCG consider that releasing this information would not be in the public interest as the public interest does not outweigh the prejudice as set out above.

4. What date is the contract due for renewal for the current provider?

31 March 2023.

5. Which digital systems are currently in use within your wider ICB for health and social care?

EMIS
SystmOne

The ICB do not run any health and social care systems; we are the contract holder for GP Practices with TPP SystmOne and EMIS, as above.
We would recommend that you contact our provider Trusts directly for their information in response to this question, as we can only answer for the ICB.

6. Does your current CHC system interface with any of the health/social systems currently in place in the ICB?

No.

7. As a CHC service do you anticipate the need for your CHC system to interface with the wider ICB systems in any of the following timescales?

None of the above

8. Would you consider implementing a web referral portal for your service in the next 12 months?

Already have web referral portal in use.

9. Would you consider implementing a patient portal for your service in the next 12-24 months?

No.

10. What could digital solutions deliver to a CHC / AACC service that would make a significant improvement to current solutions and or support you further in performing your role?

We do not hold this information.

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.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to:

NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB
FOI Team
Scarsdale
Nightingale Close
Newbold
Chesterfield
S41 7PF

Or:

ddicb.foi@nhs.net

If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB).

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.

Yours faithfully,

Kathryn Jacklin
FOI Officer
Derby and Derbyshire ICB

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 ddicb.foi@nhs.net. All requests for re-use will be responded to within 20 working days of receipt.