Attempted suicide

Dear Mr Ward

My apologies for not being in contact with you. Your request is receiving
attention but we are having to undertake a more detailed interrogation of
our records database to see if we can extract the information you
require. As you will appreciate our coding is based firstly on the
primary diagnosis and is therefore more likely to record the nature of
injury as a result of an attempted suicide rather than the attempt itself.

I should also point out that this may be an instance where, when numbers
are small (fewer than 5), guidance suggests it would be inappropriate to
make a disclosure as their is significant risk of breaching
confidentiality.

We will come back to you as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely
Laura Mason
Communications Manager
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

>>> Nick Ward <[FOI #68173 email]> 11/04/2011 03:03
>>>
Dear Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust,

How many children under the age of 13 have attempted suicide in
Cornwall in 2011, 2010

Yours faithfully,

Nick Ward

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Dear Mr Ward

Having reviewed our electronic patient database, we are unable to answer
you request with any certainty that the nature of a particular
individual's injuries were the result of deliberate or accidental harm.
The only way we would be able to ascertain this detail would be by manual
review of individual patient records. However, given our obligations
under the Data Protection Act, we consider it would be inappropriate for
us to access confidential medical records for the purpose of satisfying a
Freedom of Information request.

Furthermore, it is also probable that the number of incidents would be
fewer than 5 and guidance suggests that where this is the case there is a
high risk of breach of confidentiality, where individuals may become
identifiable.

We are therefore withholding the release of information under Sections 40
and 41 of the Freedom of Information Act, it being information that has
been supplied to us in confidence.

I am sorry we are unable to be of help in this instance. If you are
unhappy with the way we have handled your request and wish to make a
complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to:

Trust Board Secretary

Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust

Royal Cornwall Hospital

Truro TR1 3LJ

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally the ICO
cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure
provide by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Officer, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.

Yours sincerely

Laura Mason

Communication Manager

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

>>> Nick Ward <[FOI #68173 email]> 11/04/2011 03:03
>>>
Dear Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust,

How many children under the age of 13 have attempted suicide in
Cornwall in 2011, 2010

Yours faithfully,

Nick Ward

show quoted sections

References

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2. http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/help/contact