Services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

National Ambulance Resillience Unit did not have the information requested.

Dear National Ambulance Resillience Unit,

I am writing as a volunteer researcher for the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK (www.nofas-uk.org) to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act. I am working in cooperation with an ad hoc group of leaders from the organisation and other experts to frame and shape this research project and to analyse the information we receive.

Background

In February 2017, Lord Boateng asked the government “what assessment they have made of the measures adopted in Scotand which provide guidance and support for children and young adults affected by foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.” Lord O’Shaughnessy replied that “Early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and prevent some of the secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these services lies with clinical commissioning groups. [Hansard, Written Question HL5052, 10 February 2017. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...

This government policy was reiterated in July 2017 when Lord Campbell-Savours asked the government “what support they are providing for persons whose condition has been described as foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.” [Hansard, Written Question HL500 and Written Answer, 18 July 2017, https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi... In response, Lord O’Shaughnessy for the government wrote that “It is recognised that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early development of children, their behaviours and their life chances. Early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of FASD and prevent some of the secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these services lies with clinical commissioning groups.” This was again repeated on 8 May 2018 by Steve Brine, Parliamentary Under-secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care. [Hansard, Written Question 139045, 8 May 2018. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...

The following conditions fall under the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) umbrella: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), Alcohol-Related Birth Defects (ARBD), Foetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) and partial Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (pFAS)) or neurodevelopmental disorders linked to prenatal alcohol exposure (NDPAE)

Request for Information

In light of the above information I would like to ask you to provide:
1) Copies of any policies that the Trust has on the prevention of FASD, and on the diagnosis and post-diagnostic care pathway for patients with an FASD. Also your policy on the training of Trust personnel to manage patients with FASD.
2) Any information you hold on services your Trust provided for FASD for
a. prevention education following the 2016 Chief Medical Officers’ guidelines that the safest course is not to drink while pregnant or attempting to become pregnant;
b. diagnosis for both children and adults;
c. post-diagnostic care in the financial years beginning 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
3) Information on the number of Doctors in your Trust who currently provide diagnostic and/or post-diagnostic services for FASD? Please provide their names and posts. Whether your Trust employs specifically trained professionals, including but not limited to nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, to provide specialised services for patients on the FASD spectrum? If so, in what specialties, and how many? Please provide their names and posts.
4) Information on training provided to personnel in your Trust on FASD, or provided by others and accessed by your personnel.
5) Information you hold on whether your Trust sends patients for FASD diagnosis to the National FASD Clinic in Surrey (https://www.fasdclinic.com/)? Did your refer any patients to the National FASD Clinic in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and in 2018, and if so, how many in each year?
6) What was your budget for services for FASD in each financial year since that starting in 2013 and including the current financial year?
7) Please provide copies of any agreed plans you have to expand the budget or services in coming years.
If you are considering rejecting this request on the grounds of the costs of responding exceeding the statutory limits then please respond to as many of the numbered items as possible within the limit, in the order they have been presented.

Yours faithfully,

Sandra Butcher

:Freedom Of Information Mailbox, National Ambulance Resillience Unit

Good afternoon

 

Thank you for your below enquiry which we acknowledge. (NARU is hosted by
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust)

 

We shall contact you again shortly.

 

Kind Regards

 

Lynsey Kumari

Freedom of Information & Document Control Officer

West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Millennium Point, Waterfront Way, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1LX

 

Have you seen our previous FOI responses? Or Our frequently asked FOI
page? Check it out by clicking [1]here

From: Sandra Butcher

Sent: Monday, 23 July, 13:15

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Services for Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders

To: FOI requests at National Ambulance Resillience Unit

Dear National Ambulance Resillience Unit, I am writing as a volunteer
researcher for the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK
([2]www.nofas-uk.org) to make a request for information under the
Freedom of Information Act. I am working in cooperation with an ad hoc
group of leaders from the organisation and other experts to frame and
shape this research project and to analyse the information we receive.
Background In February 2017, Lord Boateng asked the government “what
assessment they have made of the measures adopted in Scotand which
provide guidance and support for children and young adults affected by
foetal alcohol spectrum disorders.” Lord O’Shaughnessy replied that
“Early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and prevent some of the
secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning
these services lies with clinical commissioning groups. [Hansard,
Written Question HL5052, 10 February 2017.
[3]https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...
This government policy was reiterated in July 2017 when Lord
Campbell-Savours asked the government “what support they are providing
for persons whose condition has been described as foetal alcohol
spectrum disorder.” [Hansard, Written Question HL500 and Written Answer,
18 July 2017,
[4]https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...
In response, Lord O’Shaughnessy for the government wrote that “It is
recognised that Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) can have a
significant impact on the early development of children, their
behaviours and their life chances. Early intervention services can help
reduce some of the effects of FASD and prevent some of the secondary
disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these
services lies with clinical commissioning groups.” This was again
repeated on 8 May 2018 by Steve Brine, Parliamentary Under-secretary at
the Department of Health and Social Care. [Hansard, Written Question
139045, 8 May 2018.
[5]https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...
The following conditions fall under the Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
(FASD) umbrella: Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), Alcohol-Related
Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ARND), Alcohol-Related Birth Defects
(ARBD), Foetal Alcohol Effects (FAE) and partial Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
(pFAS)) or neurodevelopmental disorders linked to prenatal alcohol
exposure (NDPAE) Request for Information In light of the above
information I would like to ask you to provide: 1) Copies of any
policies that the Trust has on the prevention of FASD, and on the
diagnosis and post-diagnostic care pathway for patients with an FASD.
Also your policy on the training of Trust personnel to manage patients
with FASD. 2) Any information you hold on services your Trust provided
for FASD for a. prevention education following the 2016 Chief Medical
Officers’ guidelines that the safest course is not to drink while
pregnant or attempting to become pregnant; b. diagnosis for both
children and adults; c. post-diagnostic care in the financial years
beginning 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. 3) Information on the
number of Doctors in your Trust who currently provide diagnostic and/or
post-diagnostic services for FASD? Please provide their names and posts.
Whether your Trust employs specifically trained professionals, including
but not limited to nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and
speech and language therapists, to provide specialised services for
patients on the FASD spectrum? If so, in what specialties, and how many?
Please provide their names and posts. 4) Information on training
provided to personnel in your Trust on FASD, or provided by others and
accessed by your personnel. 5) Information you hold on whether your
Trust sends patients for FASD diagnosis to the National FASD Clinic in
Surrey ([6]https://www.fasdclinic.com/)? Did your refer any patients to
the National FASD Clinic in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and in
2018, and if so, how many in each year? 6) What was your budget for
services for FASD in each financial year since that starting in 2013 and
including the current financial year? 7) Please provide copies of any
agreed plans you have to expand the budget or services in coming years.
If you are considering rejecting this request on the grounds of the
costs of responding exceeding the statutory limits then please respond
to as many of the numbered items as possible within the limit, in the
order they have been presented. Yours faithfully, Sandra Butcher
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References

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6. https://www.fasdclinic.com/
7. mailto:[FOI #500582 email]
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15. FT Members Zone
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16. mailto:[email address]?Subject=Foundation Trust, become a member

Dear :Freedom Of Information Mailbox,

Just wondering if our request was ever processed.

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Butcher

:Freedom Of Information Mailbox, National Ambulance Resillience Unit

4 Attachments

Good afternoon Ms Butcher

We responded to you on 03 August 2018 which you acknowledged on 03 September 2018 - both emails attached for your reference.

Kind Regards

Lynsey Kumari
Freedom of Information & Document Control Officer
West Midlands Ambulance Service University NHS Foundation Trust
Millennium Point, Waterfront Way, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1LX

Have you seen our previous FOI responses? Or Our frequently asked FOI page? Check it out by clicking here

show quoted sections