What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

What is the Freedom of Information Act 2000?

The Freedom of Information Act allows certain information held by public authorities to be accessible to the public and also gives the public the right to ask for information.

As a trust we comply with the Freedom of Information Act by following a strict publication scheme. We also respond to requests for information from members of the public. 

  • Publication scheme - see below
  • Quick links – class definition document - see below

How to make a request

You can submit a request by emailing paht.foi@nhs.net or send a letter to:

FOI officer
Trust headquarters
The Princess Alexandra Hospital
Hamstel Road
Harlow
Essex
CM20 1QX  

We are unable to provide any patient information or records via the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Any requests for your own, or another individual's records, should be submitted to our health records team by emailing  paht.health.records@nhs.net.

Publication scheme

This publication scheme has been prepared using the model publication scheme issued by the Information Commissioner’s office and is effective from 1 January 2012.

This publication scheme commits the Trust to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities. The information covered is included in the classes of information mentioned below, where this information is held by the authority.

Who we are and what we do

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is a district general hospital which oversees services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital, St Margaret’s Hospital, Herts and Essex Hospital and the Rectory Lane Centre. The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust fits into the East Herts and West Essex footprint and serves a rapidly increasing population of 350,000.

We provide general services to patients throughout the East Herts and West Essex area. Our services are categorised under the following divisions:

•   Surgery

•   Medical

•   Cancer, cardiology and clinical support services

•   Family and women’s services.

Our (non-clinical) directorates are:

•   Corporate services

•   Estates and facilities

•   Procurement

•   Finance

•   People

Management

All services are managed by the board of directors. The board of directors is responsible for the day-to-day management of the hospital and oversight of staff. The board of directors is made up of the following:

  • Executive directors and non-voting directors who work in the hospital on a daily basis and have management of a set area of the Trust business.
  • Non-executive directors who have specialist experience and bring independent oversight of the board's activities.

The board of directors meets on a monthly basis, on the last Thursday of every month. The trust board holds a public session at every meeting. If you would like to attend this session or submit any questions, you should contact Heather Schultz, head of corporate affairs, at h.schultz@nhs.net. An Annual General Meeting is held on a yearly basis and is open to members of the public.

Board sub-committees

The board delegates authority to six sub-committees. Each sub-committee takes responsibility for a specialist area and provides assurance to the board on the effective function of these areas. They also report back on any issues and provide oversight of steps taken to manage these issues and ensure the highest standards are maintained.

  • Quality and safety committee - The quality and safety committee provides assurance to board that adequate and appropriate governance structures, processes and controls are in place throughout the Trust to enable it to deliver a quality service according to each of the dimensions of quality set out in High Quality Care for All and enshrined through the Health and Social Care Act 2012. It provides oversight of clinical effectiveness, safety and patient experience. It also oversees the Care Quality Commission (CQC) action plan and receives patient stories on a regular basis.
  • Performance and finance committee – The performance and finance committee is responsible for reviewing the Trust’s annual business plan and recommending to board. They also undertake bi-annual reviews of performance against the plan, scrutinise operational and financial performance, assure the board of directors that the Trust has rigorous processes in place to prioritise its finance and resources and make decisions about their deployment to ensure that they best meet patients’ needs, deliver best value for money and are efficient, economical, effective and affordable – recommending any re-basing or re-forecasting of financial assumptions or plans to the board, monitor the management of the Trust’s asset base and the implementation of the Trust’s enabling strategies in support of the Trust’s clinical strategy and clinical priorities, review and monitor the management of finance, performance and contracting risks.
  • Audit committee - The audit committee provides the board of directors with an independent and objective review of financial and corporate governance, assurance processes and risk management across the whole of the Trust’s activities (clinical and non-clinical) both generally and in support of the Annual Governance Statement. In addition, it shall oversee the work programmes for external and internal audit and receive assurance of their independence alongside the day to day monitoring of the Trust’s arrangements for corporate governance.
  • Charitable funds committee – The Princess Alexandra Hospital was appointed trustee of the charitable funds of the Trust. The charitable funds committee was established to make and monitor the control and governance arrangements of the charitable funds. They further provide oversight of the fund holders' charitable expenditure and fundraising schemes.
  • Workforce committee – The workforce committee is responsible for reviewing the Trust’s workforce plans including recruitment and retention of staff, organisational development and training, and employee engagement and wellbeing. They also oversee the development of the Trust’s people, development and deployment and organisational development strategies and monitor their implementation. The committee reviews the outcomes of national and local staff surveys and monitors the progress of action plans. Also, they monitor staff engagement initiatives and outcomes.
  • New hospital committee – The new hospital committee was established to ensure the success delivery of the new hospital programme. The committee has responsibility over the programmes governance arrangements, budget and core aims and objectives.

What we spend and how we spend it

  • On a yearly basis, the trust is required to publish its audited annual accounts, which are included in the Annual Report.
  • Financial performance is reported to board on a monthly basis and is available in the board papers.
  • Staff pay is set out in the NHS Terms and conditions service handbook. Details of senior staff pay is included in the Annual Report.
  • Further to the Government’s initiative to increase transparency around public spending, we publish monthly details of expenditure over £25,000.

What our priorities are and how we are doing

Performance ratings:

How we make decisions

The trust aims to provide as much information as possible on any proposed changes or difficulties the Trust is facing. This is usually discussed within the Trust board meetings. Before any major changes are made, the Trust will consult with its governing body as well as health group leads and the Patient Panel, who also sit on the quality and safety committee.

Before approval of any key change is made, it will be passed through the relevant committees and recommended to board. These committees will seek clarification, and evidence of the scheme's effectiveness or express concern. Only once a scheme has been finalised at this committee will it be recommended to board for approval.

Our policies and procedures

Our policies and procedures are available on request through the Freedom of Information Office at paht.foi@nhs.net.

List and registers

ICT frequently asked questions

Data as of Decemeber 2021

Table of telephony suppliers

Telephony

Supplier

Renewal date

Number of devices

Cost

Mobile

O2

April 2023 (3yrs)

222

Commercially sensitive

Landline

8x8 Cloud Telephony

29 June 2023 (3+2)

2767 extns

Commercially sensitive

Bleeps / Pagers

Alertive Clinical Communications

 

SaaS

Commercially sensitive

Bleeps

Multitone

Being phased out

372

Commercially sensitive

Pagers

Page One

Being phased out

 

Commercially sensitive

Table of print suppliers

Print

Supplier

Renewal date

Number of devices

Mono prints

Colour prints

Cost

 

Contract

Ricoh

31 July 2024

215

10,543,648

2,655,906

£165,000

Dec 20 to Nov 21

Table of infrastructure suppliers

Infrastructure

Supplier

Number of devices

Servers

Predominantly DELL

310 (80% approx Virtual)

Storage

 

90.5TB

Wireless access points

Predominantly CISCO

450

PCs

Predominantly DELL

2774

Table of clinical systems suppliers

System name

Supplier

Description

System classification

Contract expiry date

Cost

(e-RS) NHS e-Referral Service

ATOS ORIGIN NHS CFH BT N3

Patients choose and book appointments and referrals

Clinical

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Alex Intranet

ITRM

Website an intranet development and hosting

Communications

14/05/2021

Commercially sensitive

Allocate (HR) - e-job planning

Allocate Software PLC

e-job plan subscriptions

HR

15/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Allocate (HR) - Hosting

Allocate Software PLC

Cloud subscriptions

HR

15/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Allocate (HR) - Nursing

Allocate Software PLC

HealthRoster nursing support

HR

15/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Allocate (HR) - Rota

Allocate Software PLC

e-monitor and e-rota subscriptions

HR

15/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Attend Anywhere

Attend Anywhere

Virtual consultations

Clinical

31/04/2022

Commercially sensitive

Big Hand

Big Hand

Digital dictation

Clinical

31/12/2021

Commercially sensitive

Parking Eye

CCP

Car parking ticket machines and usage

Estates

29/05/2021

Commercially sensitive

Captive Health

Captive Health (Connected Technology)

Friends and family test

Clinical

01/10/2021

Commercially sensitive

Carecentric

Graphnet My Care Record

Patient portal

Clinical

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Case Note Management

OIT UK Ltd (CCube Solutions)

Track patient records and stores documents

Clinical

30/09/2021

Commercially sensitive

Commercially Sensitive

ATK Software

Mortality case note review tool

Clinical

30/04/2022

Commercially sensitive

Clinichemo

Clan William Health Ltd

Chemotherapy prescriptions

Clinical

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Cosmic

CAMBIO

Patient administration system (EPR)

Clinical

30/01/2023

Commercially sensitive

COSMIC Intelligence

CAMBIO

Data warehouse and reporting

Information

30/01/2023

Commercially sensitive

CRIS

Wellbeing Software

Radiology information system

Clinical

01/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Dart

IdealGen - (Qplus?)

Document archival and retrieval system (including scanners)

Clinical

31/05/2021

Commercially sensitive

Datix

Datix Ltd

Risk management system

clinical

31/10/2021

Commercially sensitive

Dawn

4S

Pathology system

Clinical

09/07/2021

Commercially sensitive

Digital Screens

Trou Digital

Information distribution and health messaging

Communications

07/12/2021

Commercially sensitive

DrDoctor

DrDoctor (ICNH Ltd)

Patient engagement platform

Clinical

30/09/2021

Commercially sensitive

Dr Foster

Dr Foster Intelligence (Telstra Health)

Data analysis, safety and satisfaction

Clinical

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Dscribe

Dscribe Ltd

Linked to BigHand, off site transcription provider

Clinical

31/03/2023

Commercially sensitive

EPOS Now

 Epos Now

 Catering service tills

Estates

27/08/2022

Commercially sensitive

EROS

Advanced Business Solutions (COA)

Purchasing system

Procurement

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

ESR

McKesson

Electronic staff record system (absence inbound)

HR

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

EWS (Observations)

Nervercentre

E-observation, nurse handover, assessments and hospital at night

Clinical

31/03/2023

Commercially sensitive

F2

Info Health

Database for asset management, training, servicing - EBME

Estates

01/04/2022

Commercially sensitive

ICE

CliniSys

OCRR

Clinical

01/10/2021

Commercially sensitive

Healthcare Communications (Envoy)

Healthcare Communications

Two way text reminder service, replacing MJOG

Clinical

28/09/2022

Commercially sensitive

Imprivata Single Sign-on

Imprivata

Single sign-on solution

IT

30/09/2021

Commercially sensitive

Infoflex

Chameleon Information Management Services Ltd (CIMS)

Records date for all cancer patients

Clinical

31/03/2025

Commercially sensitive

Integra

Capita

Finance system

Finance

01/04/2023

Commercially sensitive

ISSUU

Issue Inc

Online flip book and publisher

Communications

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

JAC - Stock, EPMA and CMS

JAC

QE Procurement and WellSky

Pharmacy ordering, requests and configuration

Pharmacy

30/11/2022

Commercially sensitive

Kantech

Kantech

Door controls, security and alarms

Estates

01/11/2021

Commercially sensitive

LMX-RDB-Pathweb

Technidata

Interface engine for laboratory management wystem including browser based OrderComms

Clinical

Part of TD contract

Commercially sensitive

Medicode

3M Health Information Systems

Medical coding

Clinical

Part of Cosmic contract

Commercially sensitive

Medicus Acute

Mela Solutions

Pain services

Clinical

01/07/2021

Commercially sensitive

Medicus ICT

Mela Solutions

ICU recording

Clinical

01/07/2021

Commercially sensitive

Medicus Outreach

Mela Solutions

Document management - data collection

Clinical

01/07/2021

Commercially sensitive

Medisoft (MediSIGHT)

Medisoft

Ophthalmology EMR

Clinical

N/A

Commercially sensitive

MI Databank Database

CoAcS Ltd

Database of medicines information enquiries from health care professionals and patients

Clinical

01/12/2021

Commercially sensitive

Health Medics Optimal previously MRM Live

Allocate Software PLC

Design, monitoring junior doctors rotas and hours

HR

15/07/2022

Commercially sensitive

Multiquote

ADB (UK) Limited

E-sourcing

Procurement

01/02/2022

Commercially sensitive

NHS Jobs

NHS

Recruitment systems

HR

N/A

Commercially sensitive

NHS Supply Chain

NHS Supply Chain

Stock ordering system

Procurement

N/A

Commercially sensitive

Oasis

Oasis

Medical records offsite storage

Medical Records

N/A

Commercially sensitive

OPAS - Warick International

Warick International/Civica

Occupational health

Clinical

05/09/2021

Commercially sensitive

ORMIS

DXC

Patient contact centre booking office book elective patients

Clinical

30/05/2021

Commercially sensitive

PACS Enterprise Imaging

AGFA

Image archive and viewing

Clinical

24/10/2021

Commercially sensitive

PAH Website

VerseOne

Trust external website

Communications

01/02/2021

Commercially sensitive

Pentacam

Oculus - Camera

Ophthalmology camera system

Clinical

N/A

Commercially sensitive

Pharmacy Robot

Becton Dickinson

Automated stock management and dispensing unit

Clinical

31/08/2021

Commercially sensitive

PharmaOutcomes

Pinnacle health

Hospital to community pharmacy information sharing

Clinical

31/12/2021

Commercially sensitive

Practice Navigator (PAS Nav) - was Siemens PN

Recently purchased via - Auditdata

Audiology patient management system

Clinical

21/10/2021

Commercially sensitive

Prescription Tracker

Pro Magetica/Promatica

Pharmacy ordering

Clinical

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Python

Python

Development software

Information

N/A

Commercially sensitive

QlikView/QlikSence

Qlik

Reporting and BI presentation solution

Information

27/08/2023

Commercially sensitive

R Studio

Linked to Python - R Studio

Statistical software

Information

N/A

Commercially sensitive

Registration Authority

CfH NHS Spine portal

Staff user registration and card management

IT

NHS Managed

Commercially sensitive

Rhapsody Trust Interface Engine

Interoperability Health UK Limited - Lyniate

Trust integration engine - managed via restart for professional services

IT

31.05.2021

Commercially sensitive

Scantrack

CSC

Instrument tracking system in CSSD

Clinical

30/05/2021

Commercially sensitive

Sentori

Sentori

Newsletter and communication platform

Communications

N/A

Commercially sensitive

Shire System ( Piranha)

Elcosoft

Estates helpdesk and database

Estates

30/11/2021 - Not on register, raised via estates

Commercially sensitive

Simserve

MMM Medical

Records machine data for autoclave, audit trail.

Clinical

01/01/2021

Commercially sensitive

Sky Guard

Sky Guard

Lone worker devices

Estates

15/07/2023

Commercially sensitive

SLAM

Civica

Service and patient level costing

Finance

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Solus (was Prism)

HD Clinical

Cardiology - opacings

Clinical

31/03 Annually Renewed

Commercially sensitive

SONAR

NHS

ABR online system, audiology benchmarking system

Clinical

30/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Sostenuto

Sunrise

IT service desk system - 25 concurrent licences

IT

22/03/2021 - replacement due

Commercially sensitive

SourceDogg

Source Dogg

Contract management and e-sourcing

Procurement

31/03/2022

Commercially sensitive

Synertec

Synertec Ltd

Pay as you mail service

Estates

03/12/2021

Commercially sensitive

Taxi Database X drive

In house development - Access DB will be replaced

Taxi database in estates

Estates

N/A

Commercially sensitive

TD Synergy and TDHC

Technidata

Database for laboratory information management system

Clinical

30/11/2024

Commercially sensitive

TDOC

Getinge

Monitoring of the washers

CSSD

01/01/2023

Commercially sensitive

Telephony software

IS Plus and 8x8

Cal management system

IT

31/03/2021

Commercially sensitive

Trac Systems Limited

Trac

Recruitment systems

HR

Quarterly

Commercially sensitive

Twinkle

Hicom Technology

Paeds diabetes patient management

Clinical

04/04/2023

Commercially sensitive

Unisoft

Unisoft Computers Ltd

Endoscopy

Clinical

28/02/2022

Commercially sensitive

Unisoft

Unisoft Computers Ltd

Bronchoscopy reporting tool

Clinical

28/02/2022

Commercially sensitive

Viewpoint

Healthnet Connections Ltd - linked to GE

Reporting and archiving ultrasound information

Clinical

04/07/2021 Annual support

Commercially sensitive

WebBNF

Pharmaceutical Press

Intranet interface of the publication 'British National formulary' allows trust formulary status of all medicines listed in publication

Clinical

01/04/2022

Commercially sensitive

Winscribe

Winscribe

Digital dictation

Clinical

22/09/2021

Commercially sensitive

The services we offer

We have a dedicated Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which is the first contact point for questions, concerns and suggestions about our services and provides support to patients, their families and visitors including interpreting and advocacy services. Details of the services offered by the PALS team are available here.

Latest news on the hospital is available on the news and media section.

Quick links - class definition document

The publication scheme comprises seven classes of information (known as definition documents) which can be accessed by clicking on the designated links below.

Who we are and what we do

  1. About us
  2. How our trust is led
  3. How to contact us

What we spend and how we spend it

  1. Annual Reports and Accounts
  2. Annual Audit Letter
  3. Transparency Reports
  4. Board expenses
  5. Staff pay and grading structures (included in the Annual Report)
  6. Funding - See the relevant section in the Annual Accounts

What our priorities are and how we are doing

  1. Our vision and values
  2. Our objectives
  3. Equality and diversity
  4. Annual Reports
  5. Charity
  6. Quality Account
  7. Care Quality Commission rating
  8. Safe staffing levels (included in public trust board papers)
  9. Service user surveys - we participate in the NHS Patient Survey Programme

How we make decisions

  1. Trust board papers

Our policies and procedures

  1. Trust policies are available on request

Lists and registers

  1. List of contractors and suppliers - available on request
  2. Register of interests declared by trust board members

The services we offer

  1. Our services
  2. Our wards
  3. Patient experience team
  4. Information pamphlets - clinical information pamphlets are available on request
  5. News and events

Inpatient comment:

Everyone offered words of such reassurance and kindness. I felt so cared for and the communication with me at all times was fantastic.