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Q1 Freedom of Information 2018-2019
FOI Requests Details
FOI Request 922 Individual Funding Requests (Knee Surgery)
FOI Request 923 Agency Staff Costs within Continuing Healthcare
FOI Request 924 Referral and Treatment Policies for Surgical Repair of Hernias
FOI Request 925 GPSoC (GP Systems of Choice)
FOI Request 926 Supported Living Services for adults with Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, and Autism Spectrum Disorders
FOI Request 927 HR Workforce
FOI Request 928 Cataract Referral Guidelines
FOI Request 929 Sub-contract via NHS Property Services
FOI Request 930 Digital Health Solutions
FOI Request 931 Use of Rituximab
FOI Request 932 Continuing Healthcare
FOI Request 933 Personal Health Budgets
FOI Request 934 Purchase of Healthcare from non-NHS bodies
FOI Request 935 Eating Disorders
FOI Request 936 NHS Continuing Healthcare Packages
FOI Request 937 Packages of Live-in Care
FOI Request 938 Health of Looked After Children (HELAC)
FOI Request 939 Supported Living and Residential Services
FOI Request 940 General Practice Budgets and Spend
FOI Request 941 CCG Payroll Function
FOI Request 942 Asthma and COPD
FOI Request 943 Continuing Healthcare Funding
FOI Request 944 Lymphedema
FOI Request 945 Microsoft Volume Licensing Agreement
FOI Request 946 Electricity and Gas Supplier
FOI Request 947 Services commissioned within the last 8 financial years
FOI Request 948 CCG Energy Management System
FOI Request 949 Weight Management Services
FOI Request 950 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
FOI Request 951 Prescribing QIPP and Rebate schemes
FOI Request 952 “Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care” guidance document
FOI Request 953 Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU)
FOI Request 954 Policies/Funding criteria for treatment (surgical and/or injection)of base of thumb arthritis
FOI Request 955 Mental Health projects and services
FOI Request 956 ADHD Diagnosis
FOI Request 957 Continuing Healthcare
FOI Request 958 Procurement
FOI Request 959 Diagnosis Pathway and referral to assessment time
FOI Request 960 Services commissioned from Community Pharmacies
FOI Request 961 Specialist services panel
FOI Request 962 Hospital Breaches received from Practices
FOI Request 963 Prescribing of Blood Glucose Meters
FOI Request 964 IFR Requests
FOI Request 965 Cataract Surgery Criteria
FOI Request 966 Biosimilar Medicines
FOI Request 967 Childhood and Adult Obesity
FOI Request 968 Community Disability Equipment
FOI Request 969 Patients accessing Hubs
FOI Request 970 Packages of 24 hour care
FOI Request 971 Rebate Agreements for Pharmaceutical Products/Medicines
FOI Request 972 SIRI (Serious Incidents Requiring Investigation ) linked to Home Oxygen
FOI Request 973 Expressive Therapies
FOI Request 974 Referral to tier 3 CAMHS services
FOI Request 922
Q1. Please state the total number of Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) for knee surgery that the
CCG received in each of the following years:
a) 2017-18 – Please see the attached spreadsheet
b) 2016-17 - Please see the attached spreadsheet
c) 2015-16 - Please see the attached spreadsheet
Q2. Please state the number of Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) for knee surgery that the CCG
approved for funding in each of the three years listed in Q1. Please see the attached spreadsheet
Q3. Please state the total number of Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) for hip surgery that the CCG
received in each of the three years listed in Q1. Please see the attached spreadsheet
Q4. Please state the number of Individual Funding Requests (IFRs) for hip surgery that the CCG
approved for funding in each of the three years listed in Q1. Please see the attached spreadsheet
Q5. Please provide a current list of all services and treatments the CCG commissions which require
an Individual Funding Request (IFR) to be made. Please list any services or treatments that have
been added to this list in the past 12 months.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group’s Individual Funding Request Policy states:
2.3 Clinicians, on behalf of their patients, may make an individual funding request (IFR) to the
M&L CSU for treatment that is not normally commissioned by the CCG, if it satisfies the following
conditions (but not otherwise):
The request does not constitute a request for a service development, and either:
(a) The patient is suffering from a medical condition for which
• The CCG has commissioning responsibility; and
• A commissioning policy; and
• The patient’s particular clinical circumstances fall outside the criteria for funding set out in
that commissioning policy or
(b) The patient’s medical condition has rare clinical features, which render it impossible to
carry out clinical trials for the intervention in question, and the clinician therefore wishes to use an
existing treatment on an experimental basis; or
(c) The patient is suitable to enter a clinical trial which requires the CCG to fund the
treatment costs of the trial or to give approval prior to the patient entering the trial to fund
continuation of funding of treatment after the trial has been completed.
Therefore as Individual Funding Request applications can be submitted for a wide range of
exceptional healthcare needs and circumstances, there is not a definitive list of all services and
treatments that require an application to be submitted. If the CCG commissions a service, this
would fall outside of the IFR remit, as IFRs by nature are for treatments/ interventions which are
not routinely commissioned. For further information on procedures that are categorised as
Procedures of Limited Clinical Value where the CCG requires an IFR to be submitted, as there is no
eligibility criteria, please refer to https://walsallccg.nhs.uk/about-us/procedures-of-lower-clinical-
value.
FOI Request 923
Please can you confirm how much the CCG has spent on agency staff within Continuing Healthcare in
2015-2016 and 2016-2017? Nil
If possible, please can you confirm which agencies have been used to supply the staff?
If possible, please can you also breakdown how much has been spent on clinical and non-clinical
staff?
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
We have not used any agency staff within the Continuing Healthcare team based at Walsall
Clinical Commissioning Group.
FOI Request 924
As you will be aware under the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical
Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 section 35, CCGs are
required to publish on their websites reasons for any policy on whether particular healthcare
interventions are made available.
I’d like to request under the Freedom of Information Act a copy of any referral and treatment
policies your CCG has for surgical repair of hernias.
Please see attached Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group’s policy on hernia repair.
As you will be aware under the National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical
Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 section 35, CCGs are
required to publish on their websites reasons for any policy on whether particular healthcare
interventions are made available.
I’d like to request under the Freedom of Information Act a copy of any referral and treatment
policies your CCG has for surgical repair of hernias.
Many thanks in advance for your assistance.
**********************************************************************************
**
Groin Hernia Repair
Category: Restricted
Applicable OPCS Codes: T20.1/.2/.3/.4/.8/.9; T21.1/.2/.3/.4/.8/.9
A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or
surrounding tissue wall. In many cases, hernias cause no or very few symptoms, although you may
notice a swelling or lump in your tummy (abdomen) or groin. The lump can often be pushed back in,
or will disappear when you lie down. Coughing or straining may make the lump appear.
Patients may experience pain or discomfort that can limit their daily activities. Hernias can also
present as a surgical emergency should the bowel strangulate or become obstructed due to the
hernia.
There are many different types of hernia; this policy relates to groin (inguinal) hernias only.
Groin hernias occur when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel pokes through into your groin at the
top of your inner thigh. This is the most common type of hernia and it mainly affects men. It is often
associated with ageing and repeated strain on the abdomen.
Eligibility Criteria
Groin hernia repair is restricted. The CCG will fund this treatment if the patient meets one or more
of the following criteria:
irreducible and partially reducible inguinal hernias
patients who experience pain or discomfort that limits daily activities
patients with suspected strangulated or obstructed inguinal hernia should be referred as an
emergency
all children <18 years with inguinal hernia (should be referred to a paediatric surgical
provider)
all hernias in women (should be referred urgently)
This is in line with 2013 RCS Guidance. Other patients with minimally symptomatic / asymptomatic/
occult reducible inguinal hernia who have significant comorbidity (ASA 3 or 4) AND do not want to
have surgical repair after appropriate information has been provided. For these patient conservative
management at GP level with no routine follow up.
This means (for patients who DO NOT meet the specified criteria) the CCG will only fund the
treatment if an Individual Funding Request (IFR) application proves exceptional clinical need and that
is supported by the CCG.
Note:
The ASA physical status classification system is a system for assessing the fitness of patients before
surgery. In 1963 the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) adopted the five-category physical
status classification system; a sixth category was later added. These are:
1. Healthy person
2. Mild systemic disease
3. Severe systemic disease
4. Severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
5. A moribund person who is not expected to survive without the operation
6. A declared brain-dead person whose organs are being removed for donor purposes
Guidance
Royal College of Surgeons - Commissioning guide: Groin Hernia (2013) Weblink:
http://www.rcseng.ac.uk/healthcare-bodies/docs/published-guides/hernia
http://www.britishherniasociety.org/patients/
NHS Choices – Inguinal hernia repair Web link:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/inguinalherniarepair/pages/whatisitpage.aspx
FOI Request 925
Amount spent (£) by each of the CCGs you are responsible for on GPSoC (GP Systems of Choice) Lot 2
• By software provider (if possible)
Supplier of Patient Auto Arrival Solution
• Per year
2017/18 - £186,000 incl. VAT
• Over the past 3 (calendar or NHS financial) years
2015/16 - Nil
2016/17 - Nil
2017/18 - £186,000 incl. VAT
FOI Request 926
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information
regarding supported living services for adults with learning disabilities (LD,) mental health (MH) and
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Please provide answers on the attached and accompanying
spreadsheet, and where ever possible, please provide separate out for each category of LD, MH, and
ASD.
1. Please could you supply the name, email address and telephone number of the commissioner
with responsibility for placements in supported living.
Sarah Shingler – Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Quality
2. Please provide the number of supported living services the CCG currently contract with, for adults
with LD, MH and ASD. Where possible, please separate out for each category of LD, MH, and ASD, as
shown in the attached spreadsheet. –
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
3. Please provide a list of the names of those supported living services mentioned in Q2, with the
name of the provider that provides the care in them. Where possible, please separate out for each
category of LD, MH, and ASD.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
4. Please provide the highest hourly rate the CCG pays to providers of supported living services for
adults with LD, MH and ASD.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
5. Please provide the lowest hourly rate the CCG pays to providers of supported living services for
adults with LD, MH and ASD.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
6. Please provide the average hourly rate the CCG pays to providers of supported living services for
adults with LD, MH and ASD.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
7. Please provide the average weekly fee the CCG pays to providers of supported living services for
adults with LD, MH and ASD.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
8. Please provide the total number of adults funded by the CCG in supported living services for
adults with LD, MH and ASD. Where possible, please separate out for each category of LD, MH, and
ASD, as shown in the attached spreadsheet.
LD = 28 (unable to distinguish between LD and ASD)
MH = 11
9. Of the total number of adults funded by the CCG in supported living services for adults with LD,
MH and ASD, (q.8) please provide the number that are male and the number that are female. Where
possible, please separate out for each category of LD, MH, and ASD, as shown in the attached
spreadsheet.
LD Only = 21 male/7 female
10. Of the total number of adults funded by the CCG in supported living services for adults with LD,
MH and ASD, (q.8) please provide the number that were placed ‘in area’ and the number that were
placed ‘out of area'. By 'out of area', I mean people that are funded by the CCG, but placed outside
the CCG boundaries.
Not available from Walsall CCG – you can re-direct your question to Walsall Council
FOI Request 927
Please see attached spreadsheet
FOI Request 928
1. Please tell me whether the CCG has updated its cataract referral guidelines - stating the criteria for referring patients for cataracts - in the last 12 months? No
2. Please attach a link to the latest cataract referral guidelines.
Please see below the latest link
https://walsallccg.nhs.uk/publications/commissioning-individual-funding-request/2002-procedures-of-lower-clinical-value-policy/file
3. Please tell me whether the guidelines apply to more than one CCG.
Walsall CCG cataract guidelines are only applicable to Walsall patients. Other CCG’s may have similar guidelines.
FOI Request 929
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group response:
1. The CCG currently contract for this service through our overall contract with NHS Property Services and have done so for over three years. NHS Property services sub-contract this service.
2. The contract currently expires at the end of March 2019 but the full details will need to be obtained from NHS Property Services.
3. This is a provider led piece of work and not CCG. The question needs to be re-directed to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust: [email protected]
4. NHS Walsall CCG.
5. You will need to contact NHS Property Services: [email protected]
6. As above.
7. As above.
8. As above.
9. As above.
10. As above. FOI Request 930
I will ask you 9 open-ended questions. Please insert your answers below each question.
1. What is the name of your CCG/Trust/Health board?
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group
2. How many of the people in your community are diagnosed with diabetes? (Please indicate
numerical value):
Type 1 Diabetes:
Type 2 Diabetes:
If unknown differentiation, please indicate total amount:
Diabetes Type 1: 1148 Diabetes Type 2: 18690 Other Diabetes: 21 Un-typed Diabetes: 199
1. What role does your CCG/Trust/Health board play in the reimbursement process for digital
solutions?
Walsall CCG commissions healthcare services from a range of providers.
3.1 If you are not the direct decision maker of reimbursement, can your CCG/Trust/Health board still
pay for medical products to give access to patients?
2. Who affects the decision-making process of reimbursement decisions for digital health
solutions in the UK? Please specify what power they hold in the process. (If more than one,
please rank them by influence, 1 being the most influential).
Information not held
4.1. How would you describe the interest of the stakeholders you identified above? (e.g. cost
reduction, care improvement,…)?
Information not held
3. What criteria are most important for your CCG/Trust/Health board when commissioning
digital solutions (e.g. cost, newness, effectiveness,…)? Please rank the criteria, 1 being the
most important.
Walsall CCG has not established criteria specifically for the commissioning of digital solutions
4. Are you interested in partnerships with pharmaceutical companies? If yes, please what you
are seeking from such partnerships.
N/A
5. How does your CCG/Trust/Health board evaluate whether to commission a product for
diabetes care?
For service development proposals that Walsall CCG has decided to prioritise for evaluation we
would look at effectiveness, affordability and value for money.
8. Does your CCG/Trust/Health board have a policy on the use of health apps?
If yes, please specify the health policy(ies):
If no, please provide if and when this will be established:
No plans to develop
9. Does your CCG/Trust/Health board currently have a budget to use for health apps? No
FOI Request 931
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the use of
rituximab at NHS Walsall CCG.
I understand that you may not hold all the information requested. If that is the case, please indicate
who may hold that information.
I appreciate your time assisting with the response. To simplify the request, I am outlining the queries
as specifically as possible and have included space under the questions to facilitate the input of your
answers. I would be grateful if you could return this form to me via email.
1. Do you have local clinical pathways or standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the use of
MabThera? If so are you able to share these? For instance, is one cycle of MabThera
intravenous (IV) always used before initiating the patients on MabThera subcutaneous (SC)
in oncology indications?
2. Number of patients treated* using MabThera subcutaneous versus MabThera intravenous in
oncology indications between 2016-2018, if only partial data is available please indicate the
timeframe the data refers to:
Oncology
Financial Year
Number of patients treated
using MabThera Intravenous
(if possible, please provide
number of patients excluding
those who were switched to
MabThera subcutaneous)
Number of patients treated
using MabThera
Subcutaneous
FY 2016-17
FY 2017-18
*if number of patients treated is not available please provide information in units that you have
available (e.g. vials, preparations…)
3. Total number of patients treated* with MabThera (intravenous and subcutaneous) vs
Rixathon vs Truxima in oncology and rheumatology indications between 2016-2018, if only
partial data is available please indicate the timeframe the data refers to:
Financial Year Drug Number of patients
treated in Oncology
Number of patients
treated in
Rheumatology
FY 2016-17 MabThera
Truxima
Rixathon
FY 2017-18
MabThera
Truxima
Rixathon
*if number of patients treated is not available please provide information in units that you have
available (e.g. vials, preparations…)
4. Do you have local clinical pathways or standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the
initiation of new patient treatment regimens? If so are you able to share these?
5. Specifically, are new patients directly prescribed biosimilar rituximab (i.e. Truxima or
Rixathon) instead of MabThera?
6. Are existing patients being switched from MabThera intravenous to biosimilar rituximab (i.e.
Truxima or Rixathon)? If so is there a set point in their treatment pathway when patients are
switched and how is this managed?
7. Are any existing patients being switched from MabThera subcutaneous to biosimilar
rituximab (i.e. Truxima or Rixathon)? If so is there a set point in their treatment pathway
when patients are switched and how is this managed?
8. Number of patients treated* using rituximab biosimilars (Truxima and Rixathon) instead of
MabThera (intravenous and subcutaneous) between 2016-2018, if only partial data is
available please indicate the timeframe the data refers to:
Financial
Year Drug
Oncology Rheumatology
New patients
treated directly
with the
biosimilar
instead of
MabThera
Existing
patients
switched
from
MabThera to
the
biosimlar
New patients
treated directly
with the
biosimilar
instead of
MabThera
Existing
patients
switched
from
MabThera to
the
biosimlar
FY 2016-
17
Truxima
Rixathon
FY 2017-
18
Truxima
Rixathon
*if number of patients treated is not available please provide information in units that you have
available (e.g. vials, preparations…)
9. As an organisation, are you aware of any financial savings made by using biosimilar
rituximab (i.e. Truxima or Rixathon) vs MabThera between 2017-2018, if only partial data is
available please indicate the timeframe the data refers to and the methods used to calculate
the financial savings.
Year Scheme (e.g. discounting,
gainshare…)
Approximate saving (£)
10. Please provide information on the current contracts for Truxima, Rixathon, MabThera
intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC):
Drug
Contract
value
(£)*
Volume of
contract
(number of
vials)
Is price
tiered by
volume?
(Yes/No)
Length of contract
Renewal
frequency
Services included
Date of
contract
initiation
Date of
contract
expiry
Yes/No
Which services
(e.g. biosimilar
education,
patient support
program…)
Rixathon
Truxima
MabThera IV
MabThera SC
*if the total contract value is not available, please provide the price range for each drug
11. Related to question 10, if contracts are tiered by volume, could you please provide the
thresholds for each tier and what is the price percentage difference between tiers?
FOI Request 932
1. The number of people deemed ineligible for continuing healthcare for each financial year since
2011/12 and the reasons these applications were turned down.
Please note: we have limited data available for the years 2011/12 – 2013/14 - Therefore cannot
guarantee how accurate the data is for these years.
2011/12: 442 2012/13: 372 2013/14: 327 2014/15: 450
2015/16: 403 2016/17: 474 2017/18: 525
We do not record the reasons why applications are turned down – patients are either deemed
eligible or not eligible
2. The number of Continuing Healthcare (CHC) appeals since 2011/12, broken down by financial
year.
2011/12: between 1 & 5
2012/13: between 1 & 5
2013/14: between 1 & 5
2014/15: 8
2015/16: 7
2016/17: 7
2017/18: 10
3. The number of successful CHC appeals for each financial year since 2011/12 and the reason
these appeals were successful.
2011/12: 0
2012/13: 0
2013/14: 0
2014/15: between 1 & 5
2015/16: between 1 & 5
2016/17: between 1 & 5
2017/18: between 1 & 5
We cannot release figures less than five, as this is exempt under Section 40 – Personal Information
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
FOI Request 933
Please see attached spreadsheet
FOI Request 934
In the annual accounts for each CCG that you deal with, the amount spent on the ‘Purchase of
healthcare from non-NHS bodies’ is provided.
1. Please can you confirm that ‘Purchase of healthcare from non-NHS bodies’ includes any
healthcare purchased from ISTCs (independent sector treatment centres), private
providers (e.g. Bupa, Virgin Care), social enterprises, GP provider companies, as well as
other company structures?
Yes, The CCG can confirm this.
2. Please can you provide a breakdown of the contracts, including the sum of money spent
on each contract, that make up the ‘Purchase of healthcare from non-NHS bodies’
category in the annual accounts for each CCG that you deal with for the financial year
2017-18? In the breakdown, please provide the organisation name and type of service
provided for each contract.
The CCG has provided this information in enclosure one that has been embedded into
the response below.
FOI 934 Encl 1 for embedding.pdf
.
FOI Request 935
1. How many Eating Disorder (ED) patients have been sent to Scotland for treatment, having received treatment at mental health units under your control each year from 2012 through to 2017?
Please also stipulate the number of people who were referred from CAMHS services
Please also stipulate how many EDs who were referred took up their place for treatment in Scotland.
Please divide figures by treatment unit and lay your answer out in a table.
For example:
(Insert Treatment Unit Name Here)
Year Number of EDs referred
for treatment in
Scotland
Number of EDs
referred for
treatment in
Number of EDs placed
in treatment in
Scotland following
Scotland under
CAMHS services
referral from your
board
2. Please outline in a similar table to the one above, how many ED patients have been transferred
from your care to another authority's care (this includes abroad).
- For each case please stipulate where they have been transferred to.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-direct to Dudley Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust
FOI Request 936
I would like to make a Freedom of Information request regarding NHS continuing healthcare
packages. This request is being made in line with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
(c.36).
Could you please answer the following questions, preferably in the form of an email or as an
attached word document.
1) How many new NHS Continuing healthcare packages did you put in place between January 2017
and January 2018? 390
2) How many continued care packages did you terminate during this period - can you give the most
common reasons for this? 299 – Patients passed away
3) How many NHS Continuing healthcare packages did you put in place during January 2012 and
January 2013? 323
4) How many of these were terminated? 278
5) Can you give the most common reasons for this? Patients passed away
6) Do you employ continuing healthcare assessors to assess whether those with NHS Continuing
healthcare packages still warrant such help?
We commission our CHC Assessors from a provider trust. They undertake new assessments and
routine reviews
7) Did you employ continuing healthcare assessors to assess whether those with NHS Continuing
healthcare packages still warranted such help in 2012?
We commission our CHC Assessors from a provider trust. They undertake new assessments and
routine reviews
FOI Request 937
We would like to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information act, please.
1. How many package of live-in care did the CCG purchase between 01.01.2017 - 31.04.2018
2. How many packages of care were purchased by Agincare Live-in Care Services Ltd between
01.01.2017 - 31.04.2018.
3. Who is the lead commissioner for CCG services? - Paul Tulley, Director of Commissioning
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-directed to Walsall Healthcare Trust
FOI Request 938
Please may I request the following information under the FOI act (for each of your CCGs). I would
like the information to be returned in electronic format please (emailed) and broken down by CCG.
Request 1: What health assessments are carried out by your Health of Looked after Children Team
(HELAC)?
Health assessments for Looked after children are not carried out by the Designated Nurse for
Looked after Children / Deputy Designated Nurse for Looked after Children in Walsall CCG. This is
a provider function.
Request 2: Does you HELAC team carry out health assessment for any of the following groups:
prospective adopters, foster carers and special guardians
Health assessments for prospective adopters, foster carers and special guardians are not carried
out by the Designated Nurse for Looked after Children / Deputy Designated Nurse for Looked after
Children in Walsall CCG. This is a Local Authority function. It will be more appropriate for you to
forward your questions on to Walsall Council: [email protected]
Request 3: Who carries out health assessments for prospective adopters, foster carers and special
guardians if this is not carried out by the HELAC team (details of any providers)
Health assessments for prospective adopters, foster carers and special guardians are not carried
out by the Designated Nurse for Looked after Children / Deputy Designated Nurse for Looked after
Children in Walsall CCG. This is a Local Authority function.
Request 4: Does your CCG commission health assessment for prospective adopters, foster carers and
special guardians.
The CCG does not commission health assessments for prospective adopters, foster carers and
special guardians. This is a Local Authority function.
FOI Request 939
1. Has your CCG paid one off fee increases specifically for changes to sleep in liabilities to providers
for existing care packages (i.e outside of, and additional to, inflationary annual uplifts)?
2. If yes, please provide whether this has applied to both supported living and residential services.
Where possible, please separate out for categories of LD & ASD, and MH
3. Please supply a list of supported living providers mentioned in Q2. Where possible, please
separate out for categories of LD & ASD, and MH
4. Please supply a list of residential provider mentioned in Q2. Where possible, please separate out
for each category of LD, MH, & ASD.
5. Please provide whether the CCG has provided funds for backpay liabilities to providers for historic
sleep ins.
6. If yes, please provide whether this has applied to both supported living and residential services.
Where possible, please separate out for categories of LD & ASD, and MH
7. Please supply a list of supported living providers mentioned in Q6. Where possible, please
separate out for categories of LD & ASD, and MH
8. Please supply a list of residential provider mentioned in Q6. Where possible, please separate out
for each category of LD, MH, & ASD.
9. If no, please provide whether the CCG is planning on providing funds for backpay liabilities to
providers for historic sleep ins.
Re-direct to Walsall Council.
FOI Request 940
Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000) I am requesting the following information regarding
CCG general practice budgets and spend.
Please could you fill out the following table for each CCG separately:
Year
Locally commissioned
services budget for
general practice
Locally commissioned
services spend on
general practice
Other budget on
general practice -
not including core
contract*
Other spend on
general practice -
not including core
contract*
2014/15 No longer available No longer available No longer available No longer available
2015/16 No longer available No longer available No longer available No longer available
2016/17 £4,214K £4,133K £0 £0
2017/18 £3,717K £4,140K £0 £0
2018/19 £3,705K £3,705K £0 £0
*e.g., captiation,
DESs, QOF, etc.
FOI Request 941
Please provide me with the following information:
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group response:
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group’s payroll function is commissioned from Walsall Healthcare
NHS Trust (WHNHST), it will be more appropriate for you to forward your request to Walsall
Healthcare NHS Trust [email protected]
Organisation Name –
Name of Computer Software used to record Salary Overpayments –
Are names of people stored in the software?
Is the amount of the Salary Overpayment stored in the software?
Does the software have an audit trail automatically recording the logon name of the user and the
records added, accessed and changed by each user, including the data before the change and the
data after the change?
Does the audit trail include the date and time of any additions / changes to data as well as when
data was accessed?
Software Provider (Company Name)
Annual Cost (£) of Software
License Expiry Date
Name of the Organisation Responsible for Recording Salary Overpayments if you use another
organisation (e.g. a CSU)
Name of Manager Responsible for Recording Salary Overpayments
Email address of Manager Responsible for Recording Salary Overpayments
Telephone Number of Manager Responsible for Recording Salary Overpayments
Name of Data Protection Officer
Email Address of Data Protection Officer
Telephone Number of Data Protection Officer
Name of Chief Executive –
Email Address of Chief Executive -
Telephone Number of Chief Executive -
Name of Finance Director – Tony Gallagher
Email Address of Finance Director
Telephone Number of Finance Director -
FOI Request 942
I would like to request the information about the following points around the CCG's decisions with
patient care and its structure.
• What criteria does the CCG use to select which inhalers should be prescribed for Asthma and
COPD?
Cost effectiveness, BTS/NICE national guidance, formulary choice
• How does the CCG compare the cost-effectiveness, efficacy, safety and patient usability of
different inhalers when selecting which COPD and Asthma inhalers should be included on its local
guidance?
Looking at evidence available such as MTRAC, PresQIPP and national guidance
• Over the past three years, has the CCG introduced a planned programme of care which resulted in
the medicines optimisation team, contractors or GP practices proactively reviewing patients and
aligning their COPD and/or Asthma inhalers to alternative options?
Yes review though the prescribing incentive scheme
• Please list the alternative asthma and COPD inhalers that were introduced by the CCGs medicines
optimisation team, contractors or GP practices during any planned programme of care that
proactively reviewed the use of asthma and/or COPD inhalers over the past 3 years .
The currently formulary choices are available on the internet page -
https://walsallccg.nhs.uk/about-us/formulary
• Over the past three years, has the CCG used a QIPP scheme to introduce a planned programme of
care which resulted in the medicines optimisation team, contractors or GP practices proactively
reviewing patients and aligning their COPD and/or Asthma inhalers to alternative options?
Yes
• Please list the alternative asthma and COPD inhalers that were introduced by the CCGs medicines
optimisation team, contractors or GP practices when using a QIPP scheme to introduce a planned
programme of care that proactively reviewed the use of asthma and/ or COPD inhalers over the past
3 years?
The brands are available on the formulary page on the internet
I would also like to make a request for the full name, contact number and contact email for the
following roles listed below within your CCG;
Roles:
Chief Executive Officer – Paul Maubach, Accountable Officer [email protected]
01922 618312
Chief Financial Officer – Tony Gallagher, [email protected] 01922 618373
Medicines Management Lead (Interim Head of Medicines Management) Rupesh Thakkar: 01922
619923
FOI Request 943
Please could you supply the following information:
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act relating to applications to
your CCG for Continuing Care funding.
Please answer the following questions for the time period 1st April 2017 – 1st April 2018 (or the
April dates from which data began to be collected e.g. April 6th) in relation to the CCG you look
after.
Please supply the information in a spreadsheet (excel) format, if possible.
1. How many applications for Continuing Care funding were received by the CCG?
700 for the period 05/04/17 – 05/04/18
2. How many of those applications were successful – as in funding was either fully or partially
granted?
119
3. How many applicants for funding (i.e. the intended recipient) died before a final decision
was made on their case?
0
4. What was the mean time period for a decision to be made – please supply the answer in
number of days.
11.5 days
FOI Request 944
Please inform us of the services currently commissioned by Walsall CCG to support patients with
lymphedema related to
-cancer treatment
-non cancer related causes
Please inform us of the commissioner/commissioning department responsible for commissioning
these services.
Please inform us of the arrangements made to support such people if no specific lymphedema
service is commissioned.
We are the national patient support group for lymphedema and are building a picture of
lymphedema services in the UK. This information will be used to allow us to inform patients affected
by the condition of where to seek appropriate care and the commissioners responsible for
commissioning such in their area.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust (WHNHST) provides a Specialist Lymphedema Service, it will be more
appropriate for you to send your FOI to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
You may find the below links useful:
https://www.walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk/specialist-lymphoedema-service-.aspx
https://www.walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk/lymphoedema-awareness-jennys-story.aspx
FOI Request 945
1. Does your organisation have a Microsoft volume licensing agreement in place Walsall CCG has a MPSA 2. If yes, to 1. above, what type of volume license agreement(s) is it. For example (but not limited to) Subscription, Enterprise Wide Agreement, Office 365. Please list all agreements types if you have more than one Walsall CCG has Microsoft Products and Services Agreement (MPSA) 3. For each volume licensing agreement, what is the yearly contract value (please not exemption due to commercial sensitivities is not applicable here as this information should already be made public) Nil – Please be advised that the License assets are capitalised.
4. For each volume licensing agreement, please provide detailed list of licenses descriptions, SKU's and their quantities
Walsall CCG advises:
Microsoft Office 2016 Pro Plus – approximately 550
Microsoft Project 2016 Standard – 24 Licenses
FOI Request 946
1. The name of your supplier for electricity and gas, for each year as far back as possible without incurring unreasonable cost or working time for you.
2. The unit rate and standing charge you are currently being charged by your energy supplier. 3. The cost of your energy bill for the past 12 months, for electricity and gas. Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-direct to NHS Property Services
FOI Request 947
I would like to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
Please list all services that you have previously commissioned within the last eight financial years
(since 2010/11) and no longer do related to:
a. the promotion of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing
b. the prevention of children and young people's mental health difficulties
c. interventions for children and young people with mental health difficulties
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
This is a nil return.
FOI Request 948
Please find my request below, which relates to the organisation’s contract relating to their energy
management system. Not all organisations have energy management system and if the organisation
does not have one please ignore the contractual part of my request (1-6) and concentrate on
questions 7-12.
1. The supplier who provides the software to the organisation?
2. The cost associated with the software. Please provide me with the annual spend.
3. What is the brand of the software?
4. What is the duration of the contract?
5. When does this contract expire?
6. When does the organisation plan to review this contract?
7. Can you please provide me with the contract description of the services provided under the
agreement with the supplier? This also includes potential extensions and support and maintenance
services.
8. What is the organisation’s annual energy spend for the following:
a. Electricity
b. Gas
c. Water
9. What is the total number of meter points for Electricity for:
a. Non Half Hourly (NHH) meter points
b. Half Hourly (HH) meter points
10. What is the total number of Gas meter points?
11. What is the total number of Water meter points?
12. What is the total number of meter points for specialist gases and liquids?
13. Can you please provide me with the contact details of the key person responsible for this
contract or around energy management.
14. Can you please send me the organisations’ energy management strategy/plan that covers
2018?
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-direct to NHS Property Services
FOI Request 949
I am writing to request information from NHS Walsall under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
I would be grateful if you could provide information on the following questions:
1. What was your CCG’s total attributable budget for weight management services/interventions
for 2016/2017? Please break this down by:
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 4
2. What was your CCG’s total attributable budget for weight management services/interventions
for 2017/2018? Please break this down by:
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
- Tier 4
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-direct to Walsall Council
FOI Request 950
I am writing to make a Freedom of Information request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
OCD Action is a national charity providing support and information to people affected by Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Two key elements of our national advocacy work are to improve clarity
around treatment pathways and to promote people’s right to make informed choices about
treatment.
In order to inform our national advocacy work regarding access to specialist OCD services we would
be grateful if you could please provide us with data from your Individual Funding Request (IFR)
process for Walsall CCG:
Total numbers of IFRs received for treatment at an adult national and specialist OCD service in the
periods 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 AND the number of those that were successful.
Total numbers of IFRs received for treatment at a child and adolescent national and specialist OCD
service in the periods 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 AND the number of those that were successful.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
The IFR team have not received any requests for either adults/children/adolescents to be referred
to the national and specialist OCD service in the periods 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18.
FOI Request 951
I am writing to you today to formally request information regarding prescribing QIPP and rebate schemes as potentially used by your organisation. A – For the Financial Year 2017/2018 Could you please provide me with the details of any prescribing rebate schemes and QIPP/efficiency saving prescribing schemes active within your CCG during the financial year 2017/18? Please answer the questions below:
1. Primary Care Prescribing Rebate Schemes 2017/18
Name of Scheme Drug(s) covered Companies involved in the scheme
Airflusal
Airflusal
Sandoz Ltd
Axalid
Axalid
Kent Pharmaceuticals
Biquelle
Biquelle
Aspire Pharma
Contour NEXT strips Contour NEXT strips Ascensia
Ebesque Ebesque Ethypharm
Edoxaban
Edoxaban
Daiichi Sankyo
Lantus Lantus Sanofi
One Touch Select
One Touch Select
Johnson & Johnson
Seretide
Seretide
GSK
Zoladex
Zoladex
Astrazeneca
Symbicort Symbicort Astrazeneca
2. What was the total income for the CCG from rebates during 2017/18?
£216,000 (Rebates will be managed as part of the overall prescribing budget financial plan)
3. QIPP Prescribing Schemes 17/18
Name of Scheme Drug(s) covered
Prescribing Incentive Scheme 2017/18
Self-care items – Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Vit D Antibiotic ( National NHS England set ) Diabetes drugs - gliptins Respiratory drugs -all Pregabalin, Formulary Wound Dressings – see website for list Oral Nutritional Supplements – all in general
B – For the Financial Year 2018/2019 Could you please provide me with the details of any prescribing rebate schemes and QIPP/efficiency saving prescribing schemes active within your CCG for the current financial year 2018-19 (as they currently stand)?
1 Current Primary Care Prescribing Rebate Schemes 18/19
Name of Scheme Drug(s) covered Companies involved in the scheme
Airflusal
Airflusal
Sandoz Ltd
Biquelle
Biquelle
Aspire Pharma
Contour NEXT strips
Contour NEXT strips
Ascensia
Edoxaban
Edoxaban
Daiichi Sankyo
Lantus Lantus Sanofi
One Touch Select
One Touch Select
Johnson & Johnson
Seretide
Seretide
GSK
Zoladex
Zoladex
Astrazeneca
Januvia Januvia Merch sharp & Dohme
2 Current QIPP Prescribing Schemes 18/19 – Awaiting approval (still in draft)
Name of Scheme Drug(s) covered
Awaiting approval (still in draft)
3. What is the current year 18/19 CCG QIPP/efficiency savings plan target?
£15,121,000
4. What is the value of the prescribing element for the current year 18/19 CCG QIPP/efficiency savings plan target? £3,200,000
FOI Request 952
The NHS England Document entitled “Conditions for which over the counter items should not routinely be prescribed in primary care“, is a guidance document for all CCG’s. I would like to know what your plans are with regards to this document. I have the following points that I would like confirmation on please.
How much of a focus is this document for your CCG and how much resource will you be assigning to dealing with it?
o Answer on a scale of 1-5, 5 being maximum effort assigned to it and then why specifically?
The CCG is currently reviewing the guidance, there is no additional resource.
Which of the approx. 36 conditions/diseases will be a focus for your CCG to implement
change? The CCG would like to advise that this is currently under review and all decisions will need to be approved by the Walsall Joint Medicines Management Committee.
o Please list the conditions which are the main or primary focus This is currently under review
o Please list the top five conditions/diseases/areas that your CCG will want to work in this document.
This is currently under review
For the conditions that are not a focus for you, when will they be?
This is currently under review
o When do you expect to complete working through all 36 conditions, or do you? What month and what year specifically?
This is currently under review
When you are looking to implement change on this guidance document for some conditions
or all, what procedures and systems will you use and how? This is currently under review and is also dependant on committee meeting dates
o For things like Optimise Rx, what will the instruction be on this system?
For the area of dry/sore tired eyes in this document, will secondary care involvement be
required before looking to make any of these changes? This is currently under review with secondary care involvement for all discussions; this will be through the Joint committee that we have in place as above
FOI Request 953
Please can you advise me if your CCG is planning to commission one or more Hyper Acute Stroke Units (HASU) for your patients? The HASU/ASU service moved to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton from NHS Walsall Healthcare Trust (Manor) in April 2018 Has a business case been prepared for HASUs in your area? If so, please list any organisations who were paid to support the preparation of the business case and how much they were paid? No Please can you send me a copy of the business case. Please see link below
https://walsallccg.nhs.uk/be-involved/engagement-consultation/public-consultation-stroke-services-at-walsall-manor-hospital If you already have one or more HASUs in place, please can you send me any internal or external evaluations that have taken place? The CCG does not have this information available; NHS Walsall Healthcare Manor hospital conducted a sustainability review in June 2017. FOI Request 954 Question 1
Please could you send us your current policies for treatment (surgical and/or injection) of base of
thumb arthritis including any funding criteria.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Joint injections (excluding facet joint injections)
Category: Restricted
Applicable OPCS Codes: W903, W904
Rationale:
NICE guidance on osteoarthritis (2014) states the following:
Intra-articular corticosteroid injections should be considered as an adjunct to core
treatments for the relief of moderate to severe pain in people with osteoarthritis
Do not offer intra-articular hyaluronan injections for the management of
osteoarthritis
Intra-articular corticosteroids are evidenced to be an effective source of pain relief in patients
suffering with osteoarthritis, however, they are not without risks and they do not relieve all of the
pain for everyone. Therefore, other treatment options, including conservative approaches e.g.
physiotherapy should be considered concurrently.
Eligibility Criteria:
More than 3 joint injections will not be supported when a patient is likely to be a candidate for
joint replacement, except when being used as a diagnostic tool prior to joint replacement to
confirm the joint is the major source of pain/symptoms.
Joint injections may also be considered for those patients who are currently unfit or unsuitable for
surgery and patients who do not wish to proceed to joint replacement surgery. Evidence of clinical
benefit must be demonstrated for continued use of joint injections in these patients.
Where joint injections are supported, these should normally be undertaken in the out-patient
setting.
Note: Joint injections will only be commissioned in a sterile theatre when X-ray screening or
general anesthesia is required or when joint injections are performed in conjunction with other
invasive procedures.
********************************************************************
Question 2
Please could you send us any older policies including funding criteria for treatment of base of thumb
arthritis from 1998 to present day. – Prior iterations of the policy did not include Joint Injections
Question 3
If not included in the policy what criteria is used to categorise severity of base of thumb arthritis into
mild moderate or severe. N/A
FOI Request 955
I am writing to request the below information under the Freedom of Information Act.
1. Which mental health groups, projects and services is your CCG giving less money to in 2018-19,
and how much less is it giving to each of them?
No non-NHS providers have received reductions in recurring contract values for adult MH services.
2. Can you please send me a copy of the minutes of whichever meeting(s) these cuts to mental
health groups, projects and services were agreed?
N/A
3. How much money in total does your CCG hope to save through these reductions in financial
support to mental health groups, projects and services?
N/A
FOI Request 956
1. How many diagnoses of ADHD were there in the CCG in each of the last 10 years
We can only provide one year of data due to the ADHD clinic being newly created. In
2017-18 we diagnosed 34 children and young people in Walsall.
2. How many children and adults are currently waiting for an ADHD diagnosis
As of June 2018 there are 8 children waiting.
3. What is the average wait for an ADHD diagnosis for Children
The average waiting time for diagnosis is three to four months however, this is likely
to reduce in future months due to a new Consultant being available to the clinic.
4. What is the average wait for an ADHD diagnosis for Adults –
26 working days. The Trust currently has two ADHD nurses who are currently working
within the service
5. What is the CCG target time for an ADHD waiting time
There is no specified ADHD diagnostic/assessment waiting time
FOI Request 957
Under the Freedom of Information act please provide answer to the following, this is for the
purposes of research.
1) Is the continuing healthcare and funded nursing care process managed in-house, or is part or
all of the process outsourced to a 3rd party (CSU, Council, Independent provider etc.). If
outsourced, please state the name of the company and the services outsourced (all CHC,
assessment, brokerage, invoice validation etc.)
The administration, ratification & Invoice validation of the CHC & FNC processes are
managed in-house.
The commissioning of home care packages is outsourced to the local authority Brokerage
Team.
We commission our CHC Assessors from a provider trust. They undertake new
assessments and routine reviews
2) What software, (e.g. QA Plus, CHS Care Track, BroadCare), is currently utilised by the CHC
team to manage:
2.1) Referrals into the service
2.2) Scheduling of Assessments / Reviews
2.3) Assessments
2.4) Procurement of Care packages/placements
2.5) Personal Health Budgets
2.6) Activity and financial reporting
2.7) Invoicing
We utilise QA for all of the above
3) How many whole time equivalent members of staff are involved with the continuing
healthcare process by job role as below:
3.1) Business support / administrator 3
3.2) Nurse assessor 5
3.3) Contracting / procurement - we do not have contracting/procurement staff directly employed
within the team and work for the CCG as a whole, with CHC only forming part of their role
3.4) Finance 0 – we do not have finance staff directly employed within the team and work for the
CCG as a whole, with CHC only forming part of their role
3.5) Senior Management 2
4) Does the CCG or any contracted provider managing CHC have a connection to the Exeter System
and regularly check this? If not how does the CCG become aware of patient deaths?
We do not access Exeter – we are notified of RIPs via various sources e.g. nursing teams,
healthcare trust, and care providers
5) Please state how many referrals were made to the service for full consideration of CHC in the
period 01/04/2017 – 31/03/2018. This is based on the national framework standard of a checklist
outcome.
We received 790 referrals for the period 01/04/17 – 31/03/18
6) Please state how many referrals were made to the service for service users not requiring full
consideration of CHC in the period 01/04/2017 – 31/03/2018. This is based on the national
framework standard of a checklist outcome.
We do not create referrals (funding requests) for negative checklist referrals for service users not
requiring full consideration of CHC. These are scanned to the client’s record on QA and this
information cannot be reported on.
7) Please state how many service users were due to have a 12 month CHC review in the period
01/04/2017-31/03/2018
There were a total of (187) 12 month CHC Reviews due for the period 01/04/17 – 31/03/18
8) Please state how many service users had a 12 month CHC review in the period 01/04/17-
31/03/2018
There was a total of (194) 12 month reviews completed for the period 01/04/17 – 31/03/18 –
The difference in numbers to Q’s 7 & 8 are due to unscheduled reviews being undertaken
FOI Request 958
For the financial years 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, and 2017-18, please send the following information:
1) Number of procurements run by – or on behalf of - the CCG that received a challenge from a
bidder? (Either before, during, or after the Alcatel/standstill period)?
0
2) In relation to Question 1, please send a brief overview of what the procurement was for and
the value of the contract procured?
n/a
3) Number of subsequent challenges that resulted in legal action being taken against the CCG
(or the organisation running the procurement on behalf of the CCG)?
n/a
4) Number of occasions where a challenge launched and/or legal action taken against the CCG
resulted in the CCG paying money to the challenger (including payments made in settlement
or as a result of a legal case)?
n/a
5) Estimated total spent by the CCG on the payments referred to in Question 4? (Please note
you do not have to break this total down per procurement if it risks divulging confidential
information).
n/a
6) Number of single tender actions awarded by – or on behalf of – the CCG to one or more
providers?
Nil
FOI Request 959
a) What is the diagnosis pathway in your area and what is the referral to assessment
time?
(i) For children under 12.
Referral to local CAMHS team, holistic assessment which would indicate ASD traits
requiring further assessment, school reports requested, parent carer history requested for
completion, school observation completed, Connors completed if indicated, referral to
ASD clinic within local services, if accepted developmental history face to face with
parents completed, ADOS with child completed, Then diagnosis.
(ii) For young people aged 12-18.
As above
(iii) For adults.
Adults are referred for assessment and diagnosis via their GP to Dudley and Walsall
Mental Health Trust’s Neurodevelopmental Service. Waiting times are around five weeks.
b) What support is given to families during the diagnosis process?
Access to clinicians completing the assessment to answer queries, parents signposted to
local parenting support such as triple p parenting or post diagnosis cygnet.
c) What specialist Autism Services are available in your area?
Parents are signposted to Autism West Midlands
d) How long does it take for an EHCP to be approved/refused in your area?
This information is held by Walsall Council, you can re-direct your question to:
FOI Request 960
Q1 What services does the CCG currently commission from community pharmacies in your area?
(Please note, services may include minor ailments, smoking cessation, homeopathy, gluten-free
prescriptions, vascular risk checks, Chlamydia screening, vaccinations etc.).
Minor Ailments service
Palliative Care- Supply of specialist drugs
Care Homes
Minor Eye Conditions
Q2 Has the CCG decommissioned any health services provided by community pharmacies in your
area in the last year (April 2017 – April 2018)? If so, which ones?
No
Q3 Where a meeting was held to discuss stopping funding for any community pharmacy services,
please could you give me the following details:
No
a) The date of the meeting
b) A full list of the services discussed
c) A full list of the attendees:
d) A copy of the minutes of the meetings:
Q4 Have there been any discussions around future plans to decommission health services currently
provided by community pharmacies in the CCG’s area? If so, which services?
Yes, Care Homes Service
Q5 Where such a discussion has been held; please could you give me the following details:
a) The date of the meeting: 17.5.18
b) A full list of the services discussed: Care Homes Service
c) A full list of the attendees:
Present In attendance
Please details of attendees in the minutes below.
d) A copy of the minutes of the meetings : https://walsallccg.nhs.uk/about-us/primary-care-
commissioning-committee/2018-19-1/may-2018/2111-primary-care-commissioning-committee-
meeting-public-17-may-2018/file
FOI Request 961
PART 1. I'd like to know whether or not the CCG has a specialist services panel (or equivalent) in
place (see 'further clarification' below).
No Specialist service panel exists. Mental Health Commissioners ensure approval for CCG funded
services is sought for ASD (assessment), ADHD (assessment), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
neuropsychiatry and other services connected to mental health needs before treatment
commences. This is to ensure appropriate costs and local treatments are delivered by providers. If
the service provider believes the service is required and can meet the intended outcomes for the
client, then approval is given.
PART 2. I'd like to request, for each of the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, the number of
referrals for specialist services that have been made to the CCG; broken down by specialist service;
and also broken down by number successful (or agreed), number unsuccessful (or declined), and
number deferred, according to the decisions of the panel.
We cannot release figures less than five, as this is exempt under section 40 – Personal Information
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
2014 2015 2016 2017
Approved Not approved Approved
Not approved Approved
Not approved Approved
Not approved
ADHD
Data not held during
this period
11 0 46 0 72 0
ASD 8 0 16 5 60
Between
1&5
Sleep disorder 13 0 7 0 12 0 16 0
Epilepsy 8 0 10 0 18 0 8 0
Specialist
neuropsychiatry
assessment 7
Between
1&5 6
Between
1&5 7
Between
1&5
13 0
Chronic fatigue
syndrome 11 0 7 0 10
Between
1&5 13 0
Tourette syndrome
Between
1&5
Between
1&5 0
Between
1&5
Between
1&5 0 6 0
MRI scan
Between
1&5 0 0
Between
1&5 0 0 0 0
Huntington's
disease 0 0
Between
1&5 0 0 0
Between
1&5 0
PTSD
Between
1&5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
PET scan 0
Between
1&5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Possible vascular
dementia 0 0
Between
1&5 0 0 0 0 0
TIC disorder 0 0 0 0
Between
1&5 0
Between
1&5 0
Non-epileptic
attack disorder 0 0
Between
1&5 0
Between
1&5 0 12 0
Anxiety disorder 0 0 0 0 0 0
Between
1&5 0
Functional
paroxysmal tremor 0 0 0 0 0 0
Between
1&5 0
Low grade tumour 0 0 0 0 0 0
Between
1&5 0
NB: Adult Neurodevelopmental service commenced at Dudley & Walsall Mental Health Trust in 2015 (re: ADHD and ASD referrals); we do not hold information prior to 2017 regarding any ASD referrals made to Specialist Adult Autism Assessment and Resource Centre (SPARC) Birmingham. We do not hold information for the year 2013.
FURTHER CLARIFICATION
Specialist Services Panels are a cost-managing initiative that has been implemented by some CCGs to
ensure available resources are used as efficiently as possible. The process is as follows:
i. In some areas, when a patient is diagnosed with a treatment that requires a specialist service – for
example eating disorder outpatient treatment – the patient cannot be referred straight to the
service by the doctor
ii. The doctor must make an application (a referral) to the CCG, where the application/referral will be
scrutinised by what is known as a 'specialist services panel'
iii. The specialist services panel act as a gatekeeper to these services. They can agree, decline or
defer the referral.
My freedom of information request relates to all of the decisions made by this panel in a set time
period for all of these specialist services.
Here is a list of all the specialist services available at an example CCG. They will vary according to the
CCG, so this should be treated as advisory only:
- Memory disorders
- Behavioural genetics clinic – autism assessment
- Behavioural disorders service – ADHD assessment and treatment
- Chronic Fatigue Service
- Eating Disorders day care and outpatients
- Affective disorders outpatients
- Brain injury outpatients
- Psychosexual disorders clinic
- Anxiety disorders residential unit
FOI Request 962
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I’m requesting the following information for all the
CCGs you’re responsible for, for the time period of 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018:
1. How many reports of hospitals breaching the new rules on workload dump have you
received from practices? Please can these figures be broken down for each hospital the
complaint was made against?
Walsall Clinical Commissioning (CCG) Group has received a total of 17 complaints in regards to
this. These are all in the format of the recent GMS template, from the same GP and are all
regarding the same provider Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
2. What action or sanctions has the CCG enforced so far?
The CCG has incorporated all of the requirements for Making Time in General Practice (MTIGP) in
the 17/19 Contract local Service Development Improvement Plan which has been agreed with the
local Acute & Community provider Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. These actions are monitored and
managed through the SDIP review group and progress is reported to CRM.
There has been no need to apply any sanctions to date for any breaches to date, however the
provider will be held to account through the GC9 performance management clause, for any
slippage in implementing MTiGP actions.
The complaints received to date are reviewed by the Trust and they have an internal system which
tracks and responds to the complaints received. The CCG has requested copies of any responses
sent to GP’s however these are still outstanding to date.
3. Please can you share any documents the CCG has produced setting out its policy for
managing inappropriate workload dump by hospitals
As responded to in Q3, The CCG has incorporated all of the requirements for Making Time in
General Practice (MTIGP) in the 17/19 Contract local Service Development Improvement Plan
which has been agreed with the local Acute & Community provider Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Below is a copy of the SDIP for MTiGP for 17/19 against which the local Acute provider is
monitored and managed against.
FOI Request 963
1. Could you confirm if there is a guidance / formulary in place relating to the prescribing of
blood glucose meters across the Somerset area. If this does currently exist, please could you
provide a copy
Yes, Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group has a formulary; please see the link below to
our website:
http://psnc.org.uk/walsall-lpc/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2018/05/Blood-Glucose-
Meters-Walsall-version-7-to-start-April-2018.pdf
2. Could you please provide contact details for the person responsible for drawing up such
guidance on blood glucose meters at CCG / Medicines Management level.
This was a working group that involved medicines management representatives, diabetes
specialist nurses, consultant input, practice nurse and then ratified at the formulary
committee and the joint medicines committee which includes all sectors of healthcare
from Walsall.
3. Are there any financial rebates in place with chosen suppliers relating to the supply of blood
glucose strips? If so, please could you provide details of which company and details of any
agreement including how the amount of rebate is calculated and agreed period?
We cannot release this information as it is exempt under Section 43 – Commercial Interest
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
4. Are there any financial rebates in place with chosen suppliers relating to the supply of insulin
pen needles? If so, please could you provide details of which company and details of any
agreement including how the amount of rebate is calculated and agreed period?
As question three.
FOI Request 964
Please see attached spreadsheet
FOI Request 965
1. Is there a named individual who has been chosen within your organisation to lead on the
changes required by the guideline? Not specifically for this guideline. However the CCG are part of a wider procedures of low clinical value working group across the Black Country CCG’s (BC CCG’s) of which cataract surgery criteria may be included in any review.
2. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being an absolute priority) how would you rank the prioritisation you
are giving to the implementation of the NICE Cataracts in adults (management) guideline? Not specifically for this guideline. However the CCG are part of a wider procedure of low clinical value working group across the Black Country CCG’s (BC CCG’s) of which cataract surgery criteria may be included in any review.
3. Has your organisation carried out an impact assessment against the guideline’s
recommendations to find out whether there are gaps in current service provision? No. Local work is currently being progressed in line with the national STP Elective Care Transformation Plan, high impact intervention scheme for Ophthalmology 18/19, to undertake a local capacity and demand review for Hospital Eye Services and community eye services.
4. a) Has your organisation developed a strategy to ensure the implementation of the guideline?
No. Local work is currently being progressed in line with the national Elective Care Transformation Plan, high impact intervention scheme for Ophthalmology 18/19, to undertake a local capacity and demand review for Hospital Eye Services and community eye services.
4. b) If yes to 4a) can you outline the timeframe by which you plan to implement the guideline’s
recommendations? NA 5. Do commissioners have the opportunity to affect decisions made by trusts with regards to the
commissioning or procurement of intraocular lenses? Through contract review meetings. 6. Has an assessment been made by your organisation regarding the indicative costs and savings
associated with the new guideline? No 7. Has an internal assessment been made as to how recommendation 1.2.2 - instructing that
cataract surgery should not be restricted on the basis of visual acuity – will be implemented? Not specifically for this guideline. However the CCG are part of a wider procedures of low clinical value working group across the Black Country CCG’s (BC CCG’s) of which cataract surgery criteria may be included in any review.
8. Has your organisation de-commissioned any element of your ophthalmology services in the
last 24 months? No 9. Has your organisation implemented any policy in the last 24 months that has resulted in
delayed patient access to cataract care? No
10. a) How many YAG lasers associated with cataracts has your CCG been charged for by your local trust over the past 3 financial years (Per year)?
CCG 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Grand Total
0 0 0 0
10. b) How much has YAG lasering cost the CCG over the past 3 financial years?
CCG 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Grand Total
0 0 0 0
10. c) Is YAG lasering reimbursed to the trust or covered in the cataract tariff? CCG has not been
approached for payment.
FOI Request 966
1 – Has an approach to Biosimilar uptake been discussed and agreed with: No, the Walsall Clinical Commissioning (WCCG) Group is in discussion with Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.
The CCG governing body - N Area Prescribing Committee - N Relevant local provider organisation N – Discussed, not agreed Relevant Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships - N
2 – Do you have a mechanism in place for identifying the date of patent expiry for originator biological medicines, and the possible launch date of individual biosimilar products? Y
3 – Have you identified the level of potential savings opportunity available to your health economy through the use of biosimilar medicines ? Y
4 – Has your CCG accepted or is it currently accepting manufacturer provision of free of charge drug stock between licensing and NICE funding ? N
5 – If your CCG accepted or is it currently accepting FOC stock, please state “Yes” to any of following:
Brodalumab (Kyntheum) Guselkumab (Tremfya) Ixekizumab (Taltz) Secukinumab (Cosentyx) in Psoriasis or Ankylosing Spondylitis or Psoriatic Arthritis
6 – Has your Trust / CCG accepted or is it currently accepting the following list of drugs in
Tofacitinib (Xeljanz) Baricitinib (Olumiant) Golimumab (Simponi) in Rheumatoid Arthritis or Ulcerative Colitis Certolizumab (Cimzia) Apremilast (Otezla) Tocilizumab (Ro Actemra)
7 – If your Trust / CCG has not accepted manufacturer provision of free of charge drug stock, are there reasons for this? WCCG would be guided by the trust on this aspect
8 – For how long is free of charge drug stock typically provided for each patient? - NA
Frist dose First month First 3 months Other
9 – Are there any agreements in place between you the CCG and a Provider (eg Hospital Trust) that would enable savings in drug costs to be made? (For example, Gainshare agreements where the benefits associated with more efficient us of medicines not reimbursed through national prices is shared between the Provider and the Clinical Commissioning Group party to the agreement. This includes agreements for the switch to biosimilar products)
If “Yes”, then please provide the following details – Not agreed at present
FOI Request 967
Under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide the name and contact information for the
lead(s) within your STP on obesity; both childhood and adult obesity.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-directed to Walsall Council
FOI Request 968
The value of community disability equipment provided by your organisation to disabled and
terminally ill children in your area.
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Redirected to Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
FOI Request 969
Weekday Average Weekly Utilisation
Total patients accessing the hubs 23 December 2017 - 31 March 2018 309
Total patients accessing the hubs 1 April 2018 - 25 June 2018 482
Weekend Average Weekly Utilisation
Total patients accessing the hubs 23 December 2017 - 31 March 2018 87
Total patients accessing the hubs 1 April 2018 - 25 June 2018 112
FOI Request 970
1. How many packages of 24 hour care did the CCG commission between 01.01.2017 –
21.06.2018?
We have not commissioned any 24 hour care packages at home within this period
2. How many of these packages were awarded to Agincare Live-in Care Services LTD between
01.01.2017 – 21.06.2018?
All home care packages are commissioned via the Local Authority Brokerage Team, Walsall
Council. It will be more appropriate for you to re-direct your question to [email protected]
3. What is the name and contact information for both the Brokerage Manager and the Head of
your Contracts and Commissioning team?
Brokerage Manager:
The Brokerage Manager is bases at Walsall Council, It will be more appropriate for you to
re-direct your question to [email protected]
Head of Contracts:
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group only provide staff details at Governing Body level, as
this is exempt under section 40 – Personal Information of the Freedom of Information Act
2000.
Tony Gallagher, Chief Finance Officer – [email protected]
Director of Commissioning:
Paul Tulley – [email protected]
FOI Request 971
I would like to request the list of pharmaceutical products/medicines/drugs that NHS Walsall CCG
currently holds rebate agreements for. Can you also provide the corresponding rebate start dates
please (the date rebate was first signed/started with CCG and not the annual renewal date)?
I understand that the financial details of the rebates would be considered commercially confidential
but have been advised that the existence of a rebate with a product does not fall within a section 42
exemption. So, I am only requesting the product names and the rebate start dates.
Name of Scheme Drug(s) covered rebate start dates
Airflusal
Airflusal
Jan 2017
Biquelle
Biquelle
Feb 2017
Contour NEXT strips
Contour NEXT strips
Nov 2017
Edoxaban
Edoxaban
Oct 2017
Lantus Lantus
Oct 2017
One Touch Select
One Touch Select
June 2017
Seretide
Seretide
Jan 2018
Zoladex
Zoladex
Jan 2016
Januvia Januvia April 2018
FOI Request 972
I know from the Home Oxygen Service (HOS) providers, there is a monthly report delivered to your CCG
relating to Serious Incidents Requiring Investigation (SIRI), previously known as Serious Untoward
incidents (SUI), and/or Serious Events of an Adverse Nature (SEAN). I am requesting the following
information from these reports:
1. The number of incidents/events resulting in a fatality for each year
2. The number of incidents/events involving a fire for each year
3. The number of incidents/events involving oxygen equipment and a fire for each year
4. The number of incidents/events involving oxygen equipment, a fire and a fatality for each year
Please provide the information in the form shown below:
Year Fatalities Incidents Involving a Fire
Incidents Involving Oxygen Equipment and Fire
Incidents Involving Oxygen Equipment, a Fire and a Fatality
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group are not aware of any Serious Incidents reported linked to home
oxygen. FOI Request 973
Expressive Therapies Clarification email sent - case closed
FOI Request 974
Below mentioned are the questions,
1. How many children and young people does your CCG currently have waiting for assessment following referral to tier 3 CAMHs services?
2. How many of these have waited for less than four weeks/between 4 and 18 weeks/18 weeks to a year/longer than a year (please break down numbers waiting according to these categories)? Please state how long the person waiting the longest has waited.
3. How many children and young people have currently been assessed as needing CAMHS tier 3 treatment but have not yet started it?
4. How many of these have waited less than 4 weeks/between 4 and 18 weeks/18 weeks to a year/more than a year in total (ie since referral, not since assessment; please break down numbers waiting according to the categories listed). Please state how long the person waiting the longest has waited.
5. Over the last year, how many referrals for CAMHS tier 3 have you had? What proportion of these are then assessed as needing tier 3 treatment?
Please complete the spreadsheet provided below for the response:
FOI 974 CAMHS use for response.xlsx
Walsall Clinical Commissioning Group Response:
Re-directed to Dudley Walsall Mental Health Partnership Trust
