xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Our ref: DE00000334267
Dear Mr Jacobsen,
Thank you for your email of 23 July to the Department of Health requesting, under the Freedom of Information Act, information about the spend on chaplaincies and other religious services in UK hospitals the last three years. Your email has been passed to me for reply.
The Department does not collect this information on chaplaincy services within the NHS. Local NHS trusts are responsible for determining and delivering religious and spiritual care, in a way that meets the diverse needs of their patients, carers and staff.
The Department recognises the important role played by faith communities in supporting the NHS and social care organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of the local community. A total of £185,000 has been made available for each of the last three financial years from central funding, to assist faith groups to provide chaplaincy services in
Information about spend by local organisations will be held by local Trusts and you may wish to contact them for more information. Contact details are available on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk.
If you have any queries about this response, please contact me. Please remember to
quote the reference number above in any future communications.
I hope this reply is helpful. If you are unhappy with the way the Department of Health has handled your request you may ask for an internal review. You should write to the Section Head of the Freedom of Information group at the Department of Health, quoting the reference number above:
Freedom of Information Unit
Department of Health
Room 334b
Skipton House
SE1 6LH
Email:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xxx.xx
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Department. The ICO can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely,
William Scott
Customer Service Centre
Department of Health