Dear Sir or Madam
 
Thank you for your email of 12th June 2009 in which you request access to information in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). 
 
Further to your clarification email of 23rd June 2009, you requested the following information;
1) The average time taken to publish an investigation Report once it has been completed (specifically referring to investigation reports into Serious Adverse Incidents/Serious Untoward Incidents in mental health services).
2) Confirmation that the language relating to SAI and SUI has the same meaning?
3)Does the Care Quality Commission share the results of investigation reports with interested parties prior to publication and if yes, who are the parties (this is also in relation to Investigations of Serious Adverse Incidents /Seriousn Untoward Incidents in mental health services)?
 
The information access team has now processed your request and I am pleased to provide the answers to your questions below.
 
1) Generally investigation reports take a year from approval to publication but this can vary depending on the complexity of the investigation and the findings. To date we have only undertaken one investigation into mental health services: West London Mental Health NHS Trust and that report is due to be published this summer.
 
2) In our investigation into West London Mental Health Trust we have used the term serious untoward incident.  CQC is aware that some trusts may use the term "adverse incident".
 
3) All investigation reports/relevant sections of reports are shared with the Department of Health, Strategic Health Authority, relevant Trust and PCTs prior to publication. We have to provide them with the opportunity to see the report to check for any factual inaccuracies before publication.
 
I hope that I have been able to answer your questions in full, if you do require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me. 
 

Please be assured that we have carefully considered your request. However, if you are not satisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review by a different member of the Information Governance team, who has had no involvement in dealing with your request.   We aim to deal with FOI/DPA appeals within 20 days of receipt.

 

If you wish to appeal against this decision, please contact:

 

The Information Governance Team

 Care Quality Commission

Finsbury Tower

103-105 Bunhill Row

London

EC1Y 8TG

 

Emails should be clearly marked 'Appeal against FOI/DPA' and sent to: xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx.

 

Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you will have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner. Further information is available at:

 

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow 

Cheshire 

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   01625 545 700

www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

 

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 Information Access Officer

Information Governance Team
Care Quality Commission
Finsbury Tower
103-105 Bunhill Row
London
EC1Y 8TG
 
Tel. 03000 616161
 

Statutory requests for information made pursuant to access to information legislation, such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000, should be sent to: xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx