Freedom of Information Team

Chapel Wing, Guy's Hospital

Great Maze Pond

London SE1 9RT

Telephone: 020 7188 7658

8 April 2009

By email to:[FOI #7062 email]

Dear D Bird,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - REFERENCE FOI0576

Further to your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 dated 30 January 2009, I can confirm that the Trust holds most of the information requested and I now enclose this information. The text of your request is repeated below in italics, followed by our response:

1. What standards for the timely issue of discharge summaries has the Trust agreed with local commissioning bodies?

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (“the Trust”) issue a discharge letter on the day of discharge including the case summary diagnosis, key investigations and any follow up planned and prescribing information including changes from regime on admission and Health Care Acquired Infection information if applicable. A full discharge letter follows within four working days, if required.

2. What procedures are in place for monitoring the Trust's compliance with the above standard?

The Trust agreed with the Primary Care Trust (PCT) to undertake an audit to review performance against the standards outlined in question one. As the Trust has undertaken a sequential roll out programme of the use of an Electronic Discharge Letter (EDL) into clinical areas, it was not possible to meaningfully review performance until the final quarter of the financial year 2008/09. For the purposes of the review, the Trust sets itself a more stretching target of reviewing the proportion of discharge letters sent out within 48 hours of discharge and letters sent out greater than 48 hours post-discharge.

The Trust, through its Clinical Operations Group and monthly performance management review meetings, will be reviewing performance on an ongoing basis in the financial year 2009/10.

3. The number of discharge summaries issued on time by the Trust so far in the 08/09 financial year and in any other period for which data are available.

Table 1 below illustrates the performance against the standards as detailed in question two. (IP = In Patient; DC = Day Case)

Table 1

It is important to note that these figures only include data for discharge summaries produced via the EDL. For Day Surgery, bespoke local systems (e.g. Endosoft for endoscopy discharge summaries, Diabeta 3 for diabetes discharge summaries) have not been included in the summary performance. Therefore, the summary results are under-representing the actual performance for all areas. This will be addressed as the Trust reviews performance on an ongoing basis in FY2009/10.

4. The number of queries received from GPs or other primary care staff about the late issue of discharge summaries.

The Trust does not hold this information.

I hope that this fulfils your request. However do let me know if you require more details or further clarification. You can find out more about the Act and other information resources released by the Trust on our website at: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk.

If you are dissatisfied with the Trust's response then in the first instance you can appeal to the Trust. For contact details and a copy of our FOI appeal policy, please see our website or email us at [Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust request email].

If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right under section 50 of the Act to apply to the Information Commissioner to seek resolution to the matter. Further details can be found on their website: http://www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk/.

This document is copyright of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Please note that the supply of information under the Freedom of Information Act does not give the applicant a right to re-publish or re-use the documents in a way that would infringe copyright. The Trust and any other party who may own information included in these materials are entitled to protect their copyright.

Yours sincerely,

Tony Ware

Information Governance Manager

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