Freedom of information requests

The Risk Management System

Questions

1. What Risk Management System does your organisation use?

2. What modules does your organisation have access to?

3. Approx. how many end users/super users (e.g., investigators/handlers) do you have?

4. Are you considering changing provider within the next year – if yes why?

5. What annual costs have been paid for your Risk Management System for the following years:

a. 20-21
b. 21-22
c. 22-23

6. Has your organisation completed the configuration within your incident system for the LFPSE?

7. Are you planning on going live with LFPSE by the original April 2023 or the extension later in the year?

Response

1. Datix

2. Incidents, Risk, Claims & Inquests, Complaints & PALS, Actions, Safety Alerts, Dashboards

3. Approx 4,000

4. Yes potentially, periodic re-evaluation of supplier ahead of LFPSE

5. Section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) provides, “(2) Information is exempt information if its disclosure under this Act would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (including the public authority holding it).”

A commercial interest relates to a person’s ability to participate competitively in a commercial activity, with the underlying aim being to make a profit. The information you have requested is commercial information and in order to apply section 43(2), the Trust must satisfy itself that disclosure of the information would, or would be likely to, prejudice or harm the commercial interests of any person (including the Trust).

Disclosure of costs as requested along with further details provided below would be likely to prejudice the commercial activities of our named contractor.

Therefore S43 (2) of the FOIA is engaged as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Trust’s contractor.

The Public Interest Test

Public interest in maintaining the exemption

Disclosing this information could:

• Cause unwarranted reputational damage to the Trust. Companies would not have confidence that the Trust would keep sensitive financial data private.
• Prejudice the commercial interest in the Trust’s ability to obtain best price and value
• Prejudice the company’s ability to negotiate fairly with other clients
• Reduce pricing innovation in tendering parties’ bids when the contract is put out for re-procurement.

Public interest in disclosing the information

Public authorities should be transparent in their dealings in order that the public can be assured that public money is being spent wisely and best value is being sought without fear or favour.

The balancing exercise

In this instance the Trust feels the balance of public interest lies in withholding details of spend.

6. In the process of upgrading test environment to review LFPSE fields

7. We are aiming to go live with LFPSE by October 2023 (extended deadline)