[2024 / MOH / 41755] FY2023-2024 UPCC Visit/Recruitment Data
Note: this is a standard report that is prepared every month. I have copies of it up to P10 (i.e. three months before the report I'm requesting). That request (HTH-2024-40744) was submitted 2024.03.08 and completed response received 2024.05.07 (41 business days). A much more complex request submitted the same day as the one described below (HTH-2024-41754, requesting a budget and cost breakdown for every UPCC), was completed by 2024.12.12 (95 business days).
- 2024.07.26 [0]
- ✏️️ Request submitted
Copies of the last Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) dashboard report with pivot tables showing hiring progress and period/visit data, to cover entire FY2023-2024 (i.e. including P13 (Date Range for Record Search: From 4/1/2023 To 3/31/2024) - 2024.07.26 [0]
- 🖊️ Acknowledgement
Assigned HTH-2024-41755; initial response by 2024.09.10 - 2024.09.05 [27]
- 🖊️ Request for 30-day extension (to 2024.10.24)
- 2024.09.05 [27]
- ✏️ Authorized 10-day extension (to 2024.09.24)
"As this is a minor increment over data that has already been made available (e.g. HTH-2024-40744) and in various previous versions, I’m not comfortable with this taking that long. At this time I’ll okay an extension of 10 days, to September 24th." - 2024.09.06 [28]
- 🖊️ Confirmation of 10-day extension (to 2024.09.24)
- 2024.09.24 [40]
- 🖊️ Request for 5-day extension (to 2024.10.02)
"Your file has moved forward and is pending the Ministry’s final approval before we can release the final response package to you. The legislative due date is today and so I am reaching out to see if there is any possibility of a further small extension of 5 days." - 2024.09.24 [40]
- ✏️ Authorized 5-day extension (to 2024.10.02)
- 2024.10.02 [45]
- 🖊️ Request for 15-day extension (to 2024.10.24)
[6:38pm] "My apologies for reaching out on the date your FOI Request is due. We are still working on getting the response to you and appreciate you have consented to the previous extensions. Is there any possibility of you allowing any more time? If you would be willing to consent to a 15-day extension that would bring the legislative due date to October 24, 2024." - 2024.10.03 [46]
- ✏️ Authorized 15-day extension (to 2024.10.24)
"The 15 day extension is fine. Kind of expected this, given MOH and everyone else is in full election campaign mode." - 2024.10.03 [46]
- 🖊️ Still processing—no new deadline given
"Thank you so much for consenting to the extension. I just wanted to let you know that we will not be able to process it, as I missed obtaining your consent in time. However, we will be working to provide you with the response package as soon as possible." - 2024.11.30 [86]
- ✏️ Request for update
"The above-noted FOI request seems to have gone stale… can it be ‘reactivated’ or something? I still need the requested information." - 2024.12.02 [86]
- 🖊️ Update—no deadline given
"Thank you for your email following up on your FOI Request HTH-2024-41755. Your request is still open, and we are working to provide you with a response as soon as possible. Your file will remain open until a response has been provided to you." - 2025.02.04 [130]
- ✏️ Request for update
"Please advise as to the current status of this request and when I will expect a response. As noted previously, this is a request for data that is readily available and reported on internally by MOH. I can see no reason for it taking six months to process." - 2025.02.06 [132]
- 🖊️ Update—no deadline given
"Thank you for your email following up and for your patience. This file is in the final stage of approval with the ministry. We are working with the ministry to provide you with a response package as soon as possible." - 2025.03.04 [149]
- ✏️ Requested assistance from Office of the Information & Privacy Commision :
"I submitted a FOI request on 2024.07.26 for the Ministry of Health which has gone stale for several months—no response and no request for extension (last extension given was to 2024.10.24). Have made numerous requests (see below) to address this, but have not received a response. The processing delay (to date, 150 business days) is unreasonable and I would like this information released." - 2025.03.06 [151]
- 🔎️ OIPC deemed the timeline inappropriate and contacted MOH to respond. "Under section 53(3) of FIPPA, we treat a failure to respond within the time limit as a decision to refuse access to the record (Deemed Refusal)."
- 2025.03.11 [154]
- 🖊️ Response received—wrong data! (I'm sure that was completely accidental. 🙄)
"These records are provided to you in their entirety. Your file is now closed." - 2025.03.11 [154]
- ✏️ After all the delays due to ensuring accuracy, this is what I get? Not good enough!
"Unfortunately, this is NOT the data that I requested. Or to be specific, it’s the right type of data, but covering the wrong timeframe.
The data provided covers UPCC visits and recruitment for FY2024/2025 up to P7.
The data requested was the final FY2023/2024 results (up to and including P13).
While I am fully aware why MOH may not wish to release the requested information, this response is not acceptable and I ask that the requested information be immediately provided." - 2025.03.12 [155]
- 🔎️ OIPC closed file on inquiry.
"the OIPC was notified by [MOH] that they made a full disclosure of records … Since there are no further issues this inquiry has been cancelled." - 2025.03.12 [155]
- ✏️ Requested OIPC reopen the file.
"[...] The MOH response was blatantly differently than what was requested. I don’t believe this was a result of unintentional error." - 2025.03.12 [155]
- 🔎️ Expedited complaint and investigation opened, usual 30 day period for MOH to respond waived.
- 2025.03.26 [165]
- 🔎️ OIPC requests MOH provide correct data 'forthwith.'
"It appears that the Ministry believed it would satisfy your access request." - 2025.03.26 [165]
- ✏️ Clarification of how data was not inclusive of what was required.
"FWIW, it actually was NOT inclusive of what I needed… it included ONLY results for the current fiscal year which is wrapping up in a few days, and didn’t include any data for the fiscal year that ended Mar/2024. And the reason for that particular timeframe is that it coincides with the timeframe for cost data I obtained via another FOI (submitted the same day as this one, and much more work for them to produce, but which was somehow completed by Dec/2024)." - 2025.03.27 [166]
- 🔎️ OIPC forwards clarification to MOH.
- 2025.05.29 [209]
- Legislative session ends.
Completely unrelated. - 2025.06.02 [211]
- NDP announces (vague) review of primary care as part of agreement with BC Greens.
"The working group will engage with key stakeholders to receive input and feedback during the assessment." - 2025.06.04 [213]
- 🖊️ Requested data finally received!
Phew! Timing doesn't seem at all coincidental…