Released 23 January 2022
Request:
With regards to the financial reimbursement for energy costs paid to all kidney patients undergoing home dialysis therapies we request
a) details of how payments are calculated including the financial rate per KWh paid,
b) the average payment made to patients,
c) the total amount your Trust has paid to patients in the last financial year
d) the total number of kidney patients currently receiving these payments.
Assistance provided under section 16 (duty to assist) on 28 December 22:
Can you please clarify the date periods relevant to questions a) and b) of your request? You are seeking information relevant to the last financial year for c) and current information for d), but the reporting periods for a/b are unclear and these questions can be interpreted in different ways.
Response received by the Trust 03/01/23:
In relation to both A and B – details of the current method of payment, current rate per KWh paid and what the current average reimbursement payment made to a patient would be, would be much appreciated.
Information disclosed:
Please note University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has been in operation since 1 April 2021, following the merger of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust and Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Information about the Trust’s hospitals can be found on our website.
a) From October 2022 the Trust began using the attached Welsh Kidney Network – UK Kidney Association Home Dialysis Utility Reimbursement Calculator 2022/23. The current rate per KWh paid is £0.35.
b) The average payment during the period October-December 2022 was Total £104.93.
c) The total amount paid during the period October-December 2022 was Total £9,233.94.
d) As at December 2022, a total of 88 dialysis patients were receiving reimbursement (includes Haemodialysis, CAPD and APD).