Freedom of Information Request - HWHCT-09

Our ref: HWHCT-09

22 April 2022

FOI request:

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would be grateful if you could you send me answers to the following questions:- It is likely your Post Room will be able to help with the majority of these questions:

1. How many patients in total is your trust responsible for

2. What is the total number of letters you post a year

Which Postal carrier(s) do you use?

Royal Mail Yes/No

Whistl Yes/No

UKMail Yes/ No

Other (please specify) 

3. What percentage of your patient letters are sent 1st Class.

What percentage of your patient letters are sent 2nd Class (or equivalent) 

4. Do you still use franking machines Yes/No. If Yes, Who is the manufacturer of your franking machines 

Pitney Bowes Yes/No

Quadient Yes/No

Other (please specify)

5. Do you use Hybrid mail to send patient letters, If Yes, What percentage of your total postal volumes (question 1) are sent via hybrid mail?

What is the name of your hybrid mail supplier

What framework did you use to procure hybrid mail

When was the contract signed

What is the duration (Term) of the contract

6. Do you currently use a Patient portal or App for some or all of your patient communications? If Yes, Who is the supplier of your web portal or App technology

When did you first implement your patient portal or App technology (Year/Month)

How may patients have registered to use your patient portal or App

How many letters a year are currently being sent via your web portal or App

7. Do you currently use Email to communicate with your patients, If yes, Who supplies your email service

How many emails do you send to patients a year

What is the cost of each email communication

8. Do you currently use SMS to communicate with your Patients, If yes, Who supplies your email service.

How many emails do you send to patients a year.

What is the cost of each email communication

9. Who has responsibility for digital transformation in your organisation Name and Email Address

10. Who is responsible for your post room (i.e. who is your post room manage Name and Email Address

11. Who is the Director of IT in your organisation Name and Email Address 

12. Who is the procurement manager responsible for print and post solutions in your organisation Name and Email Address 

Trust response:

1. The Trust provides community and mental health services in Worcestershire and mental health services in Herefordshire.  We serve a population of 781,000 across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Further information is available in the annual report published on the Trust website which can be accessed by the following link: Policies, Strategies and Reports | Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (hacw.nhs.uk)

2. Varies per annum but in 2021/22 = 252,000

Royal Mail

3. Approximately 20% - 1^st Class, 80% mixed 2^nd class and special

4. Yes - Quadient

5. No

6. Mindwave - this is an ICS portal currently in development, not yet live - aim is to go live towards the end of May

7. No - but would use NHS Mail as standard email platform

8. No

9. David Brown – details available on the Trust website via the following link: Our Board | Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (hacw.nhs.uk)

10. This falls under the remit of the facilities team

11. See question 9 response 

12. WHCNHS.Eprocurement@nhs.net

Please be aware that although this information is accurate at the time it is provided, it may not be in the future and should not be relied upon.