FOI Request
- Disclosure ID
- FOI/03735
- Request Date
- May 26, 2020
- Subject
- PPE Stocks
- Description
Please could you send me all available information produced by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on PPE stocks between 5 March and 5 May 2020, including:
- The stock levels of surgical gowns, pairs of surgical gloves, plastic aprons, fluid repellent surgical masks (e.g. IIR masks), FFP3 respirators, FFP3 respirators, eye protection (glasses) and eye protection (visors)
- Usage of those stocks during this period (e.g. daily or weekly depletion of surgical gowns)
- Any estimates at the time of how long those stocks were expected to last
If possible, could you please split this data out by healthcare setting (i.e. detail PPE stocks by all hospitals in your trust).
- Response
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking for available information on PPE stocks between 5 March and 5 May 2020, including stock levels, usage of those stocks and estimates as to how long those stocks were expected to last.
You have specifically asked for the following information;
- The stock levels of surgical gowns, pairs of surgical gloves, plastic aprons, fluid repellent surgical masks (e.g. IIR masks), FFP3 respirators, FFP3 respirators, eye protection (glasses) and eye protection (visors)
- Usage of those stocks during this period (e.g. daily or weekly depletion of surgical gowns)
- Any estimates at the time of how long those stocks were expected to last
In response to your query , please note that Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, East Lancashire Hospitals and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals have a shared procurement function responsible for providing all procurement services to the Trusts on a collaborative basis. In response to the Covid-19 outbreak the collaborative approach was extended to include University Hospitals Morecambe Bay and Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust. The procurement teams from the Trusts re-focused their activity to respond to the Covid-19 outbreak and all Trusts implemented a policy of mutual aid to manage stock orders, receipt, allocation and distribution of PPE across the whole of the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS. This approach meant that the most appropriate stock was allocated to the Trusts at the right time. Warehousing and distribution services were established to receive stock and distribute on a 24/7 basis to satisfy the needs of the Trusts.
As for the details requested by you, unfortunately, in this instance we are not in a position to provide this and we would be relying on the exemption under Section 38 (1)(a) – Health and Safety of the FOI Act. This is a qualified exemption and requires an endangerment/prejudice test to be undertaken.
Section 38 of the FOI Act provides an exemption from disclosing information if it would endanger any individual (including the requestor, the supplier of the information or anyone else). The exemption focusses on areas where disclosure of information would or would be likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual or the safety of any individual and we are relying on the section dealing with the section about issues where disclosure might have an adverse effect on public health
The endangerment/prejudice test means that in order to engage this exemption, we, as a public authority must demonstrate that there is a causal link between the endangerment and the disclosure of the information. The public authority must also show that that disclosure would or would be likely to have a detrimental effect on the physical or mental health of any individual, or the safety of any individual. The effect must be more than trivial or insignificant. The term “would … endanger” means that it is more likely than not to occur (i.e. more than 50% chance). ‘Would be likely to endanger’ is a lower threshold and it means that even if there is a below a 50% chance, there must be a real and significant likelihood of the endangerment occurring. The likelihood of the endangerment must be decided on the facts of the case.
Having applied the test and in the current circumstances regarding the pandemic, we are content that the requirements of the test have been met and the use of the exemption is appropriate in this instance.
If you are dissatisfied with our response to your request for access to information you may ask us to carry out an internal review. You should do this by writing to:
The Information Governance Manager
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Whinney Heys Rd
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
Email: bfwh.pso@nhs.net Requests for a review must be received within 40 working days following the initial response.
If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours Sincerely,