Health

To: Infection Control Teams Dear Colleagues,

We are carrying out a short 10 question survey to understand how NHS Trusts are implementing the guidance from NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3: Designing safe spaces for patients at high risk of infection from nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and other waterborne pathogens.

This survey is being carried out to gain insight into how the recommendations of the bulletin have informed local water safety practice and capital planning across NHS organisations; and to identify common challenges in water safety management across healthcare settings.

A summary of anonymised findings will be shared with participating Trusts on request.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, we seek the following information within your NHS Trust / NHS Foundation Trust:

1. Name of NHS Trust/Foundation Trust:

2. Has your organisation reviewed NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3 with the specific note on non-tuberculous mycobacteria?

Yes
No

3. Does your organisation treat any of the “high-risk” patient groups listed in the NHS Estates Technical Bulletin 2024/3? Tick all that apply

Lung and/or heart transplant
Cystic fibrosis
Haematology/oncology patients with neutropenia,
CAR-T cell patients
Other solid organ transplant,
Patients with long-term lines

4. Do you have a Water Safety Group or equivalent multidisciplinary body for any water-related issues?

Yes
No

5. Do you currently conduct routine environmental water testing for NTM? If yes, please state the areas tested and the frequency of testing.

Yes
No

Areas tested (type here):

Frequency (type here):

6. Does your Water Safety Plan include specific controls for NTM, separate from general Legionella/Pseudomonas measures? – If yes, please specify.

Yes
No

Specify (Type here):

7. If NTM testing is undertaken, which laboratory/method is used, and is it UKAS-accredited to ISO 17025 for NTM testing or according to the methods suggested in the bulletin?

N/A (have not tested for NTM)

If testing, which laboratory/method is used? (type here):

Is testing method accredited (type here):

8. If you have tested, have you detected NTM in water samples from patient care areas in the last 3 years? (Yes/No; if yes, please indicate the area(s) and summarise the control measures taken).

Yes
No

N/A (have not tested for NTM)

Specify areas (type here):

Summarise control measures (type here):

9. Which control and/or remedial measures are you currently using to manage waterborne pathogens in your organisation? Tick all that apply

Point-of-use filters
Temperature controls
Chemical controls (any, i.e. chlorine, silver-copper ionization)
Pipe removal work (including new copper pipes)
Descaling and cleaning of water outlets
Complete removal of outlets/sink
Other (please list below)

Other (type here):

10. In the last 5 years, have you made any design changes in high-risk areas specifically to reduce waterborne infection risk (e.g., removal or relocation of sinks, drainage modifications, point-of-entry filtration)? (Yes/No; please provide brief examples).

Yes
No

11. Are you planning any major refurbishment in the next 5 years and/or is your organization part of the NHS New Hospital Programme? (Tick all that apply)

Yes – planning refurbishment works
Yes – part of the NHS New Hospital Programme
No – neither

I have attached a word document which has been laid out for ease. It clearly identifies what information I would like to receive from this freedom of information request.
By saving the attached word document file, it will allow you to fill in the boxes directly, alternatively, it can be printed off and filled in manually if that is easier.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I request the following information regarding your use of insourcing for haematology, histopathology, and/or microbiology services between 1 April 2024 and the date of this request (i.e., the last 12 months):

Service Usage:

Does your trust currently use (or has it used in the last 12 months) insourcing providers for any of the following services?

a) Haematology
b) Histopathology
c) Microbiology
d) Oncology
(If yes, please specify which specialties)

Provider Details:

For each insourced specialty above, provide:
a) The name(s) of the external provider(s).
b) The start and end date(s) of the contract(s).

Scope & Volume:

A brief description of the services covered (e.g., “blood film reporting,” “biopsy analysis,” “infection screening”).

Estimated annual spend (or total spend) on these insourcing arrangements for 2023/24.

Procurement Method:
Was the contract awarded via a framework (e.g., NHS SBS DPS, Crown Commercial Service)? If yes, state which one.

If no insourcing is used for these specialties, please state “None.”

I understand that whilst the Sexual Health team do not provide routine treatment regarding certain implants, exceptions may be made for certain groups. Please could you share a copy of the exceptions list / exceptions policy?

As you will be aware, the recently released Wheelchair Alliance report has highlighted the postcode lottery experienced by wheelchair users, and the many long waits. I am interested in the underlying data.

Please provide the following information separately for each of the wheelchair services in your area. This data is ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ information relating to each referral and should be easily extracted from the relevant Case Management System, Electronic Patient Record, or similar. Please feel free to provide the data in alternative formats, e.g. an Excel spreadsheet, if appropriate.

1a) How many open referrals does the service have for ADULTS?
1b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?
1c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?
1d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?
1e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?
1f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?
1g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?
1h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?
1i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

2a) How many open referrals does the service have for CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE?
2b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?
2c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?
2d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?
2e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?
2f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?
2g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?
2h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?
2i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to request the following information regarding the use of processed meats containing nitrates or nitrites in meals provided by your authority.

1. Does your organisation procure or serve processed meat (such as bacon, ham, sausages, or other cured meats) that contain nitrates or nitrites as preservatives?

2. If so, please provide details of the types of processed meat served and any guidance or policies in place regarding their procurement.

I am submitting this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to obtain data on NHS treatment of complications arising from surgical procedures performed overseas.

Request Details

1. NHS Admissions for Complications Following Overseas Surgeries
• The total number of hospital admissions where the NHS has treated patients for complications resulting from surgeries conducted abroad.
• A yearly breakdown from January 2020 to January 2025 (or the most recent available period).

2. Breakdown of Patients Treated
For each year, please provide where available:
• Age group of patients (e.g.: under 18, 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65+).
• Gender of patients.

3. Data Classified Under Relevant ICD-10 Codes (or their NHS equivalents):
Please provide a breakdown of cases recorded under the following ICD-10 codes related to complications of surgical procedures:
• T81 – Complications of procedures (e.g., infections, wound disruption, foreign bodies left in the body).
• T82-T85 – Complications of prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts.
• T86 – Failure and rejection of transplanted organs and tissues.
• T87 – Complications of amputations and reattachments.
• T88 – Other complications of surgical and medical care (including anaesthesia-related complications).
• Y60-Y69 – Surgical errors and misadventures (e.g., accidental punctures, foreign objects left inside patients, failure of sterile precautions, inappropriate procedures).
• Y70-Y79 – Medical devices associated with adverse incidents.
• Y83-Y84 – Abnormal patient reactions or complications following surgery or other medical procedures.

4. Specific Details on Procedures Leading to NHS Admissions
Where available, please provide:
• The type of surgery the patient originally underwent abroad (e.g., cosmetic surgery, weight loss surgery, orthopaedic surgery, dental work, etc.).
• The intended purpose of the surgery (e.g., aesthetic enhancement, weight loss, joint replacement, reconstructive surgery, etc.).
• The type of complication requiring NHS intervention (e.g., infection, implant failure, excessive bleeding, wound breakdown, nerve damage, sepsis).

5. NHS Cost of Treating Complications from Overseas Surgeries
• The total annual cost incurred by the NHS in treating complications from overseas surgeries.
• If available, an estimated breakdown of costs by procedure type.

We would like to place a Freedom of Information request, wishing to obtain an Install Base report for Monitoring systems within high acuity areas at your NHS hospitals.

Additional Questions

• How many anaesthetic rooms do you have in Theatres?
• How many theatre rooms do you have?
• Do you have a telemetry system for coronary care?
• How many telemetry systems do you have?

I am conducting an analysis on the uptake of biosimilar use for Ustekinumab.

I would be grateful if you could please tell me how many patients were treated with Ustekinumab (for any disease) for the three-month period specified within the questions.

Q1 – How many patients were treated with Ustekinumab and its biosimilars (for any disease) from the start of October 2024 to the end of December 2024?
Please use the latest available 3 months if October to December is not available and specify which 3 months have been used.

Q2 – How many patients were treated with Stelara and its biosimilars (for any disease) in the months October 2024, November 2024, and December 2024?
Please use the latest available 3 months if October to December is not available and specify which 3 months have been used.

This FOI request seeks to establish the types, numbers, costs and timings of Helicobacter pylori tests performed by your Trust (or on its behalf) for primary care providers.

Question 1: Your Trust
In your response to this FOI request, could you please specify the identity of the parts of your Trust for which this FOI is relevant, and for which you are responding.

Question 2: Types of Tests and Providers Which types of tests relevant for the primary care diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (e.g., stool antigen test, urea breath test, serology) do you perform within your Trust, or have performed on your behalf by a Third party? If outsourced, could you please specify the Third party used.

Question 3: Test Types and Volumes
How many Helicobacter pylori tests of each of these types were performed by your Trust or on its behalf in the most recent 12-month period, or other defined accounting period for which data is available?

Question 4: Requirements for in-Person Testing Which types of tests required the in-person attendance of the patient at your Trust or its Third-party provider for testing, how many such in-person attendances were required, and what was the average time taken between patient arrival and departure?

Question 5: Turnaround Time for Test Results Specifying each type of Helicobacter pylori test performed by your Trust, or on its behalf, could you please provide the average time (in hours) between receipt of sample to transmission of test result to the GP practice?

Question 6: Test costs and Tariffs
For each type of Helicobacter pylori test performed by your Trust or on its behalf, what is the total cost of performing the test to your Trust or the Third party provider (i.e., personnel, infrastructure, reagents and consumables, etc)? What does your Trust charge for performing each of these tests? Do these tests correspond to standard NHS tariffs or HRG codes? If so, could you please specify the tariff code and amount charged for each test type.