Freedom of Information - HACW-2638

Our ref: HACW-2638

22 December 2021

FOI request:

1. What plans are in place towards increasing the number of mental health beds across your trust and within what time frame?
2. What is the total number of patients placed out of the area with a mental health diagnosis in the past year to date?
3. List of private mental health hospital providers which you are currently placing patients in their care (Hospital name /postcode)?
4. What Criteria/guidelines do you follow in selecting/commissioning Private transport services providers for non-urgent/emergency patient transport?
5. List of Private transport companies/independent
6. ambulance services providers currently commissioned to transport patients to such facilities?
7. On average how much do you currently pay per trip for patient transportation to such facilities?
8. Are you currently accepting new firms?
9. What is the typical contract length/agreement with Private transport companies/independent ambulance services
10. What is the total amount spent in the last year to date on non-emergency patient transportation?
11. Mental health bed managers name/office/email/bleep contact details across the trust?
12. Nominated individual /office/role responsible for receiving new tenders or commissioning new firms?
13. What is the Average frequency of non-emergency patient transportation books/week?

Trust response:

1. No current plans in place
2. 9
3. Cygnet Hospital Stevenage SG1 4YS, Cygnet Hospital Bury BL8 2BS, Meadowcroft NHS PICU (Mary Seacole House) B18 5SD, Priory Hospital Middleton St George - Chester Ward DL2 1TF, Priory Hospital Middleton St George - Birch Ward DL2 1TF,
Cygnet Hospital Wyke BD12 8LR, Cygnet Hospital Stevenage SG1 4YS Cygnet Hospital (Blackheath) SE10 8AD.

4. Hereford use ERS, Worcestershire traditionally use Amvale for planned moves i.e. patient from our wards to Locked placement and Prometheus for emergencies as they will respond within two hours these are usually from Crisis to an admitting ward
5. ER Systems Global Ltd. Please note the CCG hold the main transport contracts.
6. EZec
7. Section 43 – Commercial Interests. The Trust is applying an exemption under section 43 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act and is not disclosing this information as it believes that the disclosure is likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Trust.
Section 43(2) states:
“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).”
8. Not currently
9. ERS do have a contract with Hereford till April 2022 we spot purchase from Amvale and Prometheus
10. From April to October 21 - £21,082.25
11. We believe releasing the names of our staff is likely to breach the principles of the Data Protection Act 2018 and therefore we are applying exemption s40 (personal information) to this part of your request.
12. Head of Procurement
13. 4 to 6 per week

Please be aware that although this information is accurate at the time it is provided, it may not be in the future and should not be relied upon.