Dear Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust,

I have been in contact with the ICO been advised to put in a fresh FOI request

When an NHS patient is referred to Eput by their GP
In the referral process to Eput
If a patient knows the Eput team they would like to be treated by.
How does the patient make Eput aware of their Treatment Team choice?

A link to NHS England guidance for Patients, Commissioners and Providers on Choice
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/up...

Yours faithfully,

iain gordon

Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),

For clarity, this Choice of team foi request is for a
patient making a choice of their treatment team at Eput
the treatment team choice has nothing to do with any Eput clinician's decision

Yours sincerely,

iain gordon

Dear Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust's handling of my FOI request 'How does a patient make Eput aware of their Treatment Team choice?'.

My question of 22/01/2023 as advised to be re-made by the ICO was
"How does the patient make Eput aware of their Treatment Team choice?"

In my view, it's not vexatious just trying to obtain information, which I so far I have not been able to obtain from Eput (complaints or FOI) and it affects patient treatment not just my own.
1, Do you believe Eput foi has provided the information to this request?

I was just trying to find out the answer to this question above.
As it affects NHS patients who want to choose their team at Eput not just myself.

2, Would it not have been easier to answer this FOI question rather than Eput prepare this elaborate response that does not provide any answer to the request made?

As yet I have not had an answer to this question from Eput complaints either and nearly 2 years have passed.

I have dyslexia and comprehension difficulties which can lead to me not using the most appropriately worded questions at times to Eput.
I have made Eput aware of this.
I have had to unfortunately learn NHS terminology e.g. commissioning body, provider, routine treatment, etc. This has added to communication difficulties with the NHS.
I have asked Eput to communicate with me before responding this has never happened with FOI if there was “ambiguity” to be resolved.
Also, the time period between correspondence with Eput does not help. For example, 1.5 years to get a complaint response and that response did not address this foi Choice request at all.
The above has led to FOI sometimes not always being worded well and having to be remade, sorry for these issues.
But Eput foi has often provided information not relevant to requests made as well, so I have needed to reword the requests. eg Choice is a “clinical decision”, but this is not the question I asked.

3, I made Eput complaints aware lack of answers a few months back but do not know if complaints will be providing an answer or not at present?

Eput foi and complaints appear to be communicating with each other from what you have stated but not communicating relevant answers to me.

Therefore the reason for asking this FOI as it affects patient treatment as other channels at Eput have not provided answers so far and the ICO adised should put in a new foi request.

Would it not have been easier to answer this FOI question rather than Eput prepare this elaborate response that does not provide an answer?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/h...

Yours faithfully,

iain gordon

Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),

To add

4, Eput said in your response of today "and patients choosing their treatment irrespective of medical recommendation."
The above appears to be a total misunderstanding, my question relates to a patient choosing their treatment Team at Eput, not the treatment provided. by Eput.
This is one of many examples of what Eput has been doing throughout my communication that is not relevant.

This ongoing communication with Eput is not easy for me either and puts a strain on me but Eput does not seem to be concerned about not providing relevant answers like the above. Eput seems to think FOI requests are done on purpose/ vexatious. from you communication of today. The ongoing nature has often been perpetuated by Eput itself not providing as I have said relevant answers.

I have asked to communicate better with Eput on numerous occasions but unfortunately, so far nothing has been forthcoming.
Another example of none relevant answer I quoted in my reply earlier of today was Eput foi said "choice was a clinical decision" this is not the context of the choice meant hence the current request.

Regarding questions to Eput complaints, I have been told I would hear soon on many occasions about issues I had raised on Choice from complaints but nothing so far at all, and 2 years have gone by. So I have put in foi request to see if get the part of the answer through this route instead. Previously complaints/pals at Eput had advised me to put in FOI requests for information like this.

Yours sincerely,

iain gordon

Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),

Eput has put some questions i put by direct to Eput via email on to the What do they know website
in eputs elaborate prepared response appendix

Can you please ask permission before puting what could be private message between me and eput on what do they know?
I have asked many times to communicate in better way and reasons why with eput but this has not so far resulted in any change on Eputs side

Yours sincerely,

iain gordon

Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),

Unfortunately it appears Eput does not want patients to know,
how you make request for the treatment team you are seen by.

Yours sincerely,

iain