Request

In a previous FOAI request, NHSBSA outlined the arrangement of calculating payments for administering covid 19 vaccinations by GP practices and PCN's and then passing the data onto NHS England, so that they could make the payments:

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/covid_vaccination_payments#incoming-2804658

1. Please provide details of all information that is passed onto NHS England regarding the reimbursement of funds so that payments can be made to GP practices and PCN's.

2. How is this information transferred to NHS England? Please provide names of any systems or software involved in the transfer of information.

3. How frequently is payment information updated and transferred to NHS England?

Response

Question 1 - Please provide details of all information that is passed onto NHS England regarding the reimbursement of funds so that payments can be made to GP practices and PCN's.

The NHSBSA is not involved in any calculations of reimbursement for administering covid vaccinations.

NHSBSA calculates the fees for covid vaccinations as set out in the NHS England service specification; this is the most recent version at the time of writing: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PRN00997i-gp-covid-19-es-specification-1-sept-2024-31-march-2026.pdf I will refer to this document as 'The Service Specification' in the rest of this answer.

The calculation includes any "per item" or "per dose" payments that are applicable as described in paragraph 14.1 in The Service Specification. NHSBSA calculates the total of those payments for each "PCN Grouping" represented by a single GP Practice as described in section 14.5 in The Service Specification. This is based on the declarations or claims that they have made using the NHSBSA 'Manage Your Service' system and in accordance with any other applicable clauses in the enhanced service specification document.

NHSBSA prepares a single comma separated values text file containing Covid payments that includes one line for each GP practice that is due a Covid vaccination payment that month. Each 'line' includes four pieces of information:

• the GP practice NHS Organisation Data Service (ODS) code

• the total payment that was calculated in pounds.

• the month in which the payment calculation was made.

• the month, or, list of months when the vaccinations were dispensed.

Question 2 - How is this information transferred to NHS England? Please provide names of any systems or software involved in the transfer of information.

The payment file is sent by secure electronic mail to NHS England to approve and then to Primary Care Services England

Question 3 - How frequently is payment information updated and transferred to NHS England?

Once each month - this follows a monthly 'cut-off' date for claims that is usually the 5th of each month - see 14.3 in The Service Specification

Data Queries

Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.

Reusing the data and copyright

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2024” Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.

Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.