March 6 2009

Mr R Clark

[email address]

Dear Mr Clark

Application for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act (2000)

I write in response to a Freedom of Information Act request received by the trust on 28 January 2009. The Act requires us to respond to this within 20-working days from receipt - that is by February 25. Further to our clarification request and your response - this was extended to March 24, to allow time to obtain the information.

Your request:

Figures for patients receiving all types of chemotherapy in 2008.

Our response is as follows:

The trust holds the information you require and has opted to provide you with a copy of the same request made by the Conservative party for consistency.

2005/06 patients = 198 treatments = 719

2006/07 patients = 202 treatments = 506

2007/08 patients = 99 treatments = 355*

* This is not a true total figure but only takes account of a standard coding procedure. The trust does not hold the information you require in this format. Coding of treatments related to cancer became far more complex in 2007 and takes place at various stages through a patient pathway. This can be because not all patients have all of their treatment at Chesterfield Royal Hospital (we do not undertake chemotherapy for all cancers at this site, but refer to a specialist centre in Sheffield).

To source and analyse all patients coded in the new format would involve a significant amount of clinical staff time outside of normal duties.

As the aggregate cost of doing this would substantially exceed the statutory threshold of £450, we have decided to exercise our discretion under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act not to provide the complete information on this occasion.

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to: The Corporate Secretary, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Calow, Chesterfield S44 5BL.

Yours sincerely

Sarah Turner-Saint

Head of Communications

cc Terry Alty, Corporate Secretary

1

Reference: FOI09/027

Communications department

Telephone: (01246) 513875

Fax: (01246) 512737

[Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust request email]