FOI/25/253

Request

For the 6-month period ending 31st October 2024, can you please provide:

1. Total Framework Agency Spend for Dental Nursing

0

2. Total Off Framework Agency Spend for Dental Nursing

10k

3. Total dental nursing hours filled by Framework Agencies

0

4. Total dental nursing hours filled by Off Framework agencies

421

5. A list of all Framework agencies utilised by the Trust for dental nursing and total number of shifts for each framework agency

Commercially Sensitive information. Section 43 Applied, see below for further information

6. A list of all Off Framework agencies utilised by the Trust for dental nursing and total number of shifts for each non framework agency

Commercially Sensitive information. Section 43 Applied, see below for further information

7. A list of Agency suppliers with a day charge rate of over £30 for dental nursing

Commercially Sensitive information. Section 43 Applied, see below for further information

8. A list of Agency suppliers with a night charge rate of over £35 for dental nursing

Commercially Sensitive information. Section 43 Applied, see below for further information

9. A list of any Off Framework suppliers that have ongoing block booking arrangements for dental nurses with your Trust within the identified time frame (30.4.2024 - 31.10.2024)

Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust no longer use Off-Framework suppliers.

 

Section 43 – Commercial Interest

Section 43(2) exempts information whose disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any person (an individual, a company, the public authority itself or any other legal entity). Disclosure of the requested information could prejudice pending or future negotiations the CLCH may be subject to.

 

This is a qualified exemption under the FOIA, which means that consideration must also be given to whether in all the circumstances of the case the public interest favouring disclosure is greater than the public interest in maintaining the exemption. The public interest means what is in the best interests of the public not what is of interest to the public.

 

Factors in favour of discloser:  

·       Disclosing information relating to the value of the rent charged would benefit the public interest by encouraging transparency. 

·       Disclosing information relating to [Question 5,6,7,8] would promote accountability and transparency by showing how CLCH receive and spend public money. 

 

Factors in favour of non-disclosure: 

·       Disclosing the [Question 5,6,7,8] would undermine our competitive position in the marketplace. 

·       Disclosing the [Question 5,6,7,8] would compromise the commercial activities of CLCH, as it would compromise its ability to negotiate competitive future deals.

·       Disclosure of the [5,6,7,8], is likely to lead to reputational and financial damage which would affect future investments and have a knock-on effect to the money raised for the health economy.

 

Having considered the above, we maintain that the factors in favour of upholding the exemption outweigh the factors in favour of disclosure. Therefore, the balance of the public interest test is greater in maintaining the exemption available under section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.