Direct Line: (01639) 683328

Facsimile: (01639) 687675

email: [email address]

19^th August 2009

Mr Keith Knight

Facilitator

Reaching Out, Making a Difference

Dear Mr Knight

Re: Information Request

I refer to your request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking a directory of front facing staff in respect of Mental Health Services.

We acknowledged your request on 29^th July explaining that we would ask Mental Health Services to assist with your request and subsequently you spoke with Bruce Torrance from the Mental Health Directorate to understand how best we could help you. As previously explained, the Trust receives numerous request for contact details of staff some of which lead to junk emails and marketing correspondence. Under Section 40 of the Freedom of Information Act we therefore refuse such requests unless they relate to Executive level posts. However at the same time we want relevant contact details to be freely available to partner organisations.

ABMU NHS Trust provide Specialist hospital and community based mental health services across Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea areas. These services include general adult and older people's psychiatric services which are provided on a geographical locality basis. Services are provided on a multidisciplinary team basis which includes doctors, nurses, psychologists and therapists. In addition, we work in partnership with Social Services who provide input across the areas. Access to Trust services is usually via an individual's General Practitioner and this requires a referral. Therefore our services would not be accessible via the `third' sector such as charitable organisations.

We are currently in the process of creating a directory of services for partner organisations and an early version of this document is enclosed as it contains a summary of the various services we offer. Should you wish to make contact with us regarding this you can do so by calling 01656 752752.

Therefore whilst under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act (Personal Information) we believe that the information you are seeking in terms of the contact details of patient facing staff is exempt, we do hope that our response provides some useful information. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you require anything further.

The Trust operates a system of Internal Review.  Should you consider that our response to your request has not been managed appropriately please contact my office at Trust Headquarters below.  If after Internal Review you remain dissatisfied you are also entitled to refer the matter to the Information Commissioner at the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF (Tel 01625 545 745, Fax 01625 524510).

Yours sincerely

Steve Combe

Director of Corporate Affairs

Chairman/Cadeirydd: Win Griffiths; Acting Chief Executive/Prif Weithredydd Dros Dro: Calum Campbell

Trust Headquarters/Pencadlys yr Ymddiriedolaeth:

1Talbot Gateway/Porthfa Talbot, Seaway Parade/Rhodfa'r Forffordd, Baglan Energy Park/Parc Ynni Baglan, Port Talbot, SA12 7BR

Tel/ Ffon: (01639) 683344, Fax/ Ffacs: (01639) 687675/ 687676

www.abm.university-trust.wales.nhs.uk