Request
This is a request
under the Freedom of Information Act.
Please provide details of the following:
(a) the total spend on UK hotel accommodation for the SHA's chief
executive in the financial years 2007/08 and 2008/09 and how many
nights each total represents
(b) how many of these nights were spent less than 50 miles from
the chief executive's home.
(c) does the SHA chief executive use the services of a
chauffeur?
If so:
(d) how much was spent on chauffeur services for the chief
executive during 2007/08 and 2008/09?
I expect a response to the above request within 28
days.
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Our
Response
I refer to your email of 3 April
requesting information in respect of expenses incurred by Dr
Barbara Hakin in respect of her role as Chief Executive of NHS East
Midlands.
I can confirm in accordance with S.1
(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 that we do hold the
information that you have requested and will address each of your
questions in turn:-
(a)
the total spend on UK hotel accommodation for the SHAs
chief executive in the financial years 2007/08 and 2008/09 and how
many nights each total represents
Dr Barbara Hakin is Chief Executive
of NHS East Midlands, one of the ten Strategic Health Authorities
in England. NHS East Midlands is the local leader of 23 acute,
mental health, primary care and ambulance Trusts. Together these
Trusts serve 4.3m people employing 80,000 staff with an annual
spend of £6bn – across an area larger than Northern Ireland.
The nature of Dr Hakin’s job
requires extensive travel round the East Midlands, involving long,
often anti-social hours, necessitating occasional hotel stays.
The total spend and number of nights
represented is:
2007/2008
19 nights = £1653.82
2008/2009
33 nights = £3072.01
(b) how many of these nights were spent less than 50 miles
from the chief executive's home.
None
(c) does the SHA chief
executive use the services of a chauffeur?
Dr Hakin’s responsibilities require
substantial travel across a large geographical area. In order
to maximise value for money she needs to be able to work when
travelling. The SHA determined that the most cost effective
way to achieve this was to employ an individual who could undertake
administrative duties and drive Dr Hakin in her own car.
(d) how much was spent on
chauffeur services for the chief executive during 2007/08 and
2008/09?
The answer to (c) means there is no
need to contract for car or chauffeur services.
We can confirm that the salary of
the individual described in (c) is £13,944 and that our records
show that the individual spends (average per month) less than 25%
of her time driving Dr Hakin.
I do hope that this information is
of use to you. However, please note that if you are
dissatisfied with the way in which we have dealt with your request
you can complain in writing to:-
Mr Kevin Orford
Deputy Chief Executive and Director
of Finance
NHS East Midlands
Octavia House
Interchange Business Park
Bostock's Lane
Sandiacre
Nottingham
NG10 5QG
If at the conclusion of any review
you remain dissatisfied you may complain to the Information
Commissioner who can be contacted at:-
The Office of the Information
Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
