Thank you for your request for information about the following:

Total number of claims submitted in the previous requested period? (1/1/21-31/3/21)

Your request was clarified with:

You kindly provided me with the information regarding the approved Force Majeure claims between the dates 1/1/21 to 31/3/21. My further request was to ask how many Force Majeure claims were actually submitted resulting in the 51 that were actually approved during that time period.

Your clarified request was received on 25th January 2023, and I am dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Response

Welsh Contracts

Please note that we only hold data on the number of force majeures accepted on contracts commissioned in England. For information on Welsh contracts, please contact the Welsh government using the below details:

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership

Freedom of Information Requests

NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership,

4-5 Charnwood Court,

Heol Billingsley,

Parc Nantgarw,

Cardiff

CF15 7QZ

E-mail: shared.services@wales.nhs.uk

English Contracts

The below figures only relate to force majeure claims from contracts where NHSBSA Provider Assurance carried out the year-end reconciliation on behalf of regional teams (Category 1 and 2 contracts). Force majeure data for contracts reconciled by regional teams (category 3 contracts) would be held regionally.

The figures relate to Quarter 4 (1 January to 31 March 2021), which was the only period for 20/21 YE reconciliation where actual delivery was considered and Force Majeures could be applied for.

Category 1

Details recorded in Compass are up to date and accurate and the year-end reconciliation can be completed based on these. Within NHSBSA Provider Assurance Dental (NHSBSA PAD) responsibility to reconcile.

Category 2

Require additional information to complete the year-end reconciliation. Within NHSBSA Provider Assurance Dental responsibility to reconcile.

Category 3

Will normally be those paid by NHSBSA Dental Services via Compass that are not GDS and PDS (for example, but not limited to, PDS+, Community Dental Service, Emergency Dental Service) and/or Year End activities are not stipulated under the regulation or the standard contract. These contracts remain with the Regional Dental Commissioning Teams

Category 4

These contracts are participating in the Dental Contract Reform programme. They are highlighted for information purposes only as NHSBSA PAD do not manage the reconciliation of these contracts, this is carried out by the NHSBSA Dental Contract Reform Team

Number of Contracts with Force Majeure Claims Notified to Regions

143

Number of Contracts with Rejected Force Majeure Claims

7

The remainder of submitted Force Majeure claims were either accepted or did not proceed as the contract achieved over 96% of their annual target.

Please note, Force Majeure data has been updated since the previous FOI 18062 dated 22/11/21, following resolution of all queries.

If you have any queries regarding the data provided, or if you plan on publishing, the data please contact nhsbsa.foirequests@nhs.net ensuring you quote the above reference. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.

If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact nhsbsa.communicationsteam@nhs.net. 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: “Dental Services, NHSBSA Copyright 2023” This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence:

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

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.