Hospital beds

Summary

A request was made for details regarding the replacement of 265 hospital beds, including costs, reports, disposal, and staff expenses. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed the purchase cost and disposal details but could not provide the recommendation report or staff costs as they were not held.

Key Facts

• The total purchase cost for 265 new beds was £314,295.52 (ex-vat).
• The Department does not hold a copy of the report recommending the bed replacement.
• Old beds were disposed of by the manufacturer with no income received by the Department.
• Staff costs for the replacement project were not separately captured and are unavailable.
• Approval to purchase the new beds was granted in March 2019.

Data Disclosed

• 265
• £314,295.52
• 2003
• March 2019
• 19th August 2019
• 16th September 2019
• section 11(3)a

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)a of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

Question 1 What was the cost of the new 265 beds? Question 2 Provide a copy of the Report recommending their replacement. Question 3 Where have the old beds been disposed of and has there been any income received? Question 4 What was the staff costs to all work relating to the replacement of the beds?

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Angela Murray Freedom of Information Team DHSC Crookall House Demesnes Road Douglas IM1 3QA

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 929114 16th September 2019

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 19th August 2019 and states:

"Question 1 What was the cost of the new 265 beds? Question 2 Provide a copy of the Report recommending their replacement. Question 3 Where have the old beds been disposed of and has there been any income received? Question 4 What was the staff costs to all work relating to the replacement of the beds?" While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested. I have detailed below the information that is held.

"Question 1 What was the cost of the new 265 beds? The total purchase cost was £314,295.52 (ex-vat).

Question 2 Provide a copy of the Report recommending their replacement. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide the information you have requested; the Department of Health and Social Care no longer hold a copy of the report recommending bed replacement.
The bed stock at Noble’s Hospital was purchased in 2003 prior to the opening of the new hospital and spare parts are no longer manufactured for the beds and the manufacturer is no longer able to assist in maintaining the bed stock.
Approval to purchase the new bed stock was given by the then Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Health and Social Care in March 2019. Question 3 Where have the old beds been disposed of and has there been any income received? The Department received no income from the replacement of the ‘old beds’, to provide context, the manufacturer was responsible for the collection, transportation and any subsequent disposal. Question 4 What was the staff costs to all work relating to the replacement of the beds?" While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information you have requested. This is in line with section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. There was no exercise undertaken to separately capture staff costs in relation to the replacement of beds, we do not have this information. Please quote the reference number 929114 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded. If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely