Gloucestershire Health and Care- NHS Trust logo
with you, for you
Responses > 167-2024

Freedom of Information request 167-2024

Response published: 20 November 2024

FOI Request

1. How is waitlist validation carried out in your Trusts? Please select one of the following options: Manually / Semi-automated / Automated. a. If your response was semi-automated or automated, which tools do you use? Please specify the types of tools or software used. 2. How many FTEs currently work on waitlist validation and what band are they? Please specify the number per band. 3. How has your FTE count working on waitlist validation increased in the past 2-3 years? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number. 4. In the past 12 months, approximately how long has the waitlist validation process taken? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number. 5. What data quality issues have been identified the most frequently as part of the waitlist validation process? Please select those that apply from the list below: a. Decision to admit but no waiting list entry b. Missing waiting list or pathway information (e.g. due date, intended procedure) c. Patients on an admitted waiting list without an active RTT (Referral to Treatment Pathway) clock d. Past TCI (To Come In) dates e. Potential duplicates f. Other - please specify 6. What are your current approaches to linking data? Please select one of the following options: Manually or semi-automated / Automated 7. What is the proportion of data linkage that is manual and automated? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number. a. If automated, what tools are used? Please provide the name of the tools. b. If manual, what tools are used e.g. R, data bricks? Please provide the name of the tools. 8. Currently, is the data linking process cumbersome? Please select one option: Yes/No 9. And does it take away from people’s everyday role? Please select one option: Yes/No

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: 167-2024

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:
How is waitlist validation carried out in your Trusts? Please select one of the following options:
Our response:
Semi-automated 
You asked:
If your response was semi-automated or automated, which tools do you use? Please specify the types of tools or software used.
Our response:
Tableau
You asked:
How many FTEs currently work on waitlist validation and what band are they? Please specify the number per band.
Our response:
N/A – the Trust does not employ staff specially for this purpose  
You asked:
How has your FTE count working on waitlist validation increased in the past 2-3 years? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number.
Our response:
N/A
You asked:
In the past 12 months, approximately how long has the waitlist validation process taken? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number.
Our response:
Wait list validation managed daily at service level 
You asked:
What data quality issues have been identified the most frequently as part of the waitlist validation process? Please select those that apply from the list below:
Our response:
a. Decision to admit but no waiting list entry
b. Missing waiting list or pathway information (e.g. due date, intended procedure)
c. Patients on an admitted waiting list without an active RTT (Referral to Treatment Pathway) clock
d. Past TCI (To Come In) dates
e. Potential duplicates
f. Other – please specify – Rejected referrals not closed
You asked:
What are your current approaches to linking data? Please select one of the following options:
Our response:
Automated
You asked:
What is the proportion of data linkage that is manual and automated? Please provide an estimate if you do not have the exact number.
Our response:
90%
You asked:
a. If automated, what tools are used? Please provide the name of the tools.
Our response:
SQL
You asked:
b. If manual, what tools are used e.g. R, data bricks? Please provide the name of the tools.
Our response:
N/A
You asked:
Currently, is the data linking process cumbersome? 
Our response:
No
You asked:
And does it take away from people’s everyday role? 
Our response:
No
 

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.