Doctor's guidance for treating depression

Dear Ms. Clemence,

I write in response to your request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. You asked for the following information:

Question

Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000), please could you provide me
with a copy of any written guidance about treating patients with
depression given to doctors working in the Camden and Islington Borough
since 1 January 2007.

Answer

Doctors are advised in the treatment of depression within the context of
published NICE guidance. I advise that you refer to the NICE website for
the guidance that they issue [1]http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp

The NICE Clinical Guideline (CG23) [2]http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG23 was
issued in a reference folder, along with other NICE Mental Health
Guidance, to doctors within Camden & Islington during summer 2007. The
locally-produced insert that accompanied CG23 is attached.

Additionally, I have attached a copy of an online training & assessment
tool which was made available to doctors in C&I during 2007 to
specifically raise awareness of the NICE depression guidelines.

Updated NICE guidance (CG90) was issued in October 2009
[3]http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG90 superseding CG23.

A project group is currently being established to review the new guidance
which will be led by the Head of Psychological Therapies.

Whilst the Trust does not provide Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services, we can advise that NICE guidelines for Treating depression in
children [4]http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG28 are available. However, we
are unable to comment on its distribution to, and implementation with
Camden and Islington doctors. For further information relating to this, I
would advise that you contact our local Commissioners, as follows:

NHS Camden

FOI Team
NHS Camden
1st floor, East Wing
St Pancras Hospital
4 St Pancras Way
London NW1 0PE

[email address]

NHS Islington

Karla Parker
Head of Corporate Management and Emergency Planning Officer
NHS Islington
338-346 Goswell Road
London
EC1R 7LQ

[5][email address]

Finally, In terms of prescribing for treatment of depression, the Trust's
prescribing guidance follows the Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines. In
regards to this, I have attached a copy of the current Trust formulary.

Please accept our sincerest apologies for the delay in providing a
response to your request. The delay occurred as a result of an
administrative restructure within the organisation.

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:

Director of Nursing and Performance,

Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust,

Trust Headquarters,

2^nd Floor, East Wing,

St. Pancras Hospital,

4 St. Pancras Way,

London

NW1 0PE

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office,

Wycliffe House,

Water Lane,

Wilmslow,

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely,

James Irwin

Information Governance Manager

Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust.

show quoted sections