[FOI #15613 email]

By email

Our ref: CQC IG 26

28 August 2009

Dear Mr Oakley,

Re: Freedom of Information 2000 Request

I write in relation to your email of 31 July 2009 which the Care Quality Commission received on the same date. You requested the following information:

“What claims/statements Bedfordshire PCT / NHS Bedfordshire have made in the last five years regarding the provision of health care, diagnosis and treatment/therapy, for patients with Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and in particular their implementation of NICE Guideline 53?

What criteria the HCC used and the CQQ will use to assess the successful implementation of a NICE Guideline and in particular the implementation of NICE Guideline 53 by a Primary Care Trust and specifically Bedfordshire PCT / NHS Bedfordshire?”

With the exception of Bedfordshire PCT's Core Standards Declaration which contains a statement of compliance in relation to core standard C5a (Healthcare organisations ensure that they conform to National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) technology appraisals and, where it is available, take into account nationally agreed guidance when planning and delivering treatment and care.), the Commission does not hold any further information falling within the scope of your request.

Neither the Healthcare Commission nor the Care Quality Commission requires trusts to declare compliance with individual NICE guidelines.

The Commission holds copies of the PCT's declarations for 2006/7, 2007/8 and 2008/9.

The declarations for years 2006/7 and 2007/8 are available from the following links

http://2007ratings.healthcarecommission.org.uk/healthcareproviders/searchforhealthcareproviders.cfm/widCall1/customWidgets.content_view_1/cit_id/10892/page/3/element/CSA

http://2008ratings.cqc.org.uk/findcareservices/informationabouthealthcareservices/overallperformance/searchfororganisation.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&cit_id=5P2&page=3&element=CSA

The Commission has yet to publish the 2008/9 declaration on its website but it is currently available from Bedfordshire PCT's website. I am informed that the declaration on the PCT website is identical to the copy held by the Commission:

http://www.bedfordshire.nhs.uk/downloads/policies/core_standards_declaration_200809_commissioning_hsmart.pdf

http://www.bedfordshire.nhs.uk/downloads/policies/core_standards_declaration_20082009_provider.pdf

Declarations are now separated into commissioning and provider.

You may complain about the manner in which the Commission has handled your request for information. In the first instance, please address your complaint to:

Information Governance Team

Care Quality Commission

Finsbury Tower

103-105 Bunhill Row

London

EC1Y 8TG

Or, via email: [Care Quality Commission request email]

Further rights of appeal exist to the Information Commissioner's Office (www.ico.gov.uk) once the internal complaints procedure has been exhausted.

Yours sincerely

Kim Lok

Information Governance Manager

Information Governance Team

Care Quality Commission

Finsbury Tower

103-105 Bunhill Row

London

EC1Y 8TG

www.cqc.org.uk

Chairman
Barbara Young

Chief Executive
Cynthia Bower

Registered office:
Finsbury Tower
103-105 Bunhill Row
London EC1Y 8TG