Number of patients that have been able to access the team of their choice
Dear Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust,
Since April 2014 patients have had the right to choose the treatment team of their choice.
The right to Choose would have applied to the previous NHS organizations that formed Eput.
1, Could you please tell me for each year from 2014, how many patients have chosen a treatment team of their choice?
2, Could you please tell me for each year from 2014, how many patients have been treated by the team of their choice?
When I say choose the team of their choice I mean the patient has actively made a decision to choose a team other than the team allocated by Eput/the system.
Yours faithfully,
iain gordon
Dear Iain
The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Freedom of Information Service received your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
You requested information as outlined below/attached.
The Act allows 20 working days for us to respond to your request so you can expect a response by 13 January 2021. Whilst the Trust will endeavour to answer your request within the permitted timescales, this may be delayed due to urgent operational responses dealing with current Public Health priorities. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, we do remain committed to responding to your request and will respond as soon as we are able. Should our response to your request breach the statutory timeframe and you remain unhappy with our response you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office and you can contact them at this link ICO.
We will of course make every effort to respond sooner if possible. A fee may be charged to cover postage and photocopying costs, however we will advise you before any such fees incur.
You should also be aware that the Act does allow, in certain cases, for the 20 working day time period to be extended. We will notify you as soon as possible if there is a need to extend the time limit for responding to your request.
The Trust has a statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to applicants. If you have any questions now, or during the processing of your request, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards
Legal Services
Freedom of Information / Subject Access Requests
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Runwell | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
E-mail: [email address] (Freedom of Information)
E-mail: [email address] (Subject Access Request)
Dear Iain
The Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Freedom of Information Service received your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act.
You requested information as outlined below/attached.
The Act allows 20 working days for us to respond to your request so you can expect a response by 13 January 2022. Whilst the Trust will endeavour to answer your request within the permitted timescales, this may be delayed due to urgent operational responses dealing with current Public Health priorities. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, we do remain committed to responding to your request and will respond as soon as we are able. Should our response to your request breach the statutory timeframe and you remain unhappy with our response you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office and you can contact them at this link ICO.
We will of course make every effort to respond sooner if possible. A fee may be charged to cover postage and photocopying costs, however we will advise you before any such fees incur.
You should also be aware that the Act does allow, in certain cases, for the 20 working day time period to be extended. We will notify you as soon as possible if there is a need to extend the time limit for responding to your request.
The Trust has a statutory duty to provide advice and assistance to applicants. If you have any questions now, or during the processing of your request, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards
Legal Services
Freedom of Information / Subject Access Requests Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Runwell | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
E-mail: [email address] (Freedom of Information)
E-mail: [email address] (Subject Access Request)
Dear Iain Gordon
I am writing in response to your request for information made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Please find attached a response from EPUT.
If you are dissatisfied with the response you have received, you have the right to request a review of our decision or make a complaint about how your request has been handled. Your request should be made within 2 months of receipt of this letter and we will reply within 20 working days of receipt. Any such request received after 2 months will only be considered at the discretion of the organisation.
If our decision is unchanged following a review and you remain dissatisfied with this, you then have the right to make a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at this link ICO.
Kind regards
Legal Services
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
Legal Services | The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
Email: [email address]
Web: www.eput.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
EPUT | Working to improve lives
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 'Number of patients that have been able to access the team of their choice'.
OK so Eput says
"1. Could you please tell me for each year from 2014, how many patients have chosen a
a treatment team of their choice?
We do not record this information
2. Could you please tell me for each year from 2014, how many patients have been
treated by the team of their choice?
We do not record this information"
So Eput does not know how many people have been allowed to choose their team.
A personal anecdotal fact, I have not been allowed to choose my team even after raising a complaint.
There had been quite drawn out communication between me and the trust including none relevant facts like a choice only has to do with service providers or ignoring my request (maybe because it was verbal).
So Eput does not know what is going on regarding choice within the trust, we have been able to determine this fact.
1, Would it be a good idea for Eput to have some idea?
2, Is this not information Eputs supervisory organizations require?
3, I guess "We do not record this information" means no patients of Eput have been able to choose their team, (particularly if they are the normal public patients, eg not employed, not a medical professional...)?
I can confirm personally my request for choice has been blocked by Eput. My GP made a choice request and I have made numerous requests both in writing and verbally to no avail.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...
Yours faithfully,
iain gordon
Dear Iain
Thank you for your request for an internal review. We anticipate that this will be completed by 11 February 2022 and will inform you of the outcome. However, the Trust is mindful of your references to your on experience and are conscious that Freedom of Information requests, which can only provide information held by the Trust and which can be put into the public domain, is limited in its utility in addressing the points you make. The Trust is therefore reviewing the underlying points you are making, and which the Trust is unable to answer to your satisfaction via the Freedom of Information route, to see if these are better addressed via an alternative pathway. The Trust will be in touch with you separately in this regard.
Kind regards
Legal Services
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
Legal Services | The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
Email: [email address]
Web: www.eput.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
EPUT | Working to improve lives
Dear Iain
I am writing in response to your request for a review of the information sent to you as part of your original Freedom of Information Act 2000 request.
Please find attached a response from EPUT.
If you are dissatisfied with the response you have received, you have the right to request a review of our decision or make a complaint about how your request has been handled. Your request should be made within 2 months of receipt of this letter and we will reply within 20 working days of receipt. Any such request received after 2 months will only be considered at the discretion of the organisation.
If our decision is unchanged following a review and you remain dissatisfied with this, you then have the right to make a formal complaint to the Information Commissioner who can be contacted at this link ICO.
Kind regards
Legal Services
Freedom of Information / Subject Access Requests
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Runwell | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
E-mail: [email address] (Freedom of Information)
E-mail: [email address] (Subject Access Request)
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 'Number of patients that have been able to access the team of their choice'.
"1, Could you please tell me for each year from 2014, how many patients have chosen a
a treatment team of their choice?
We do not record this information"
Can you please pass 1 above to Eput complaints?
So how do I know Eputs answer to 3 below is true as Eput says "We do not record choice information"?
How do I know Eput is just saying normal patients have chosen the team, excluding NHS staff and other people, I will explain more below?
"3. I guess "We do not record this information" means no patients of EPUT have been
able to choose their team, (particularly if they are the normal public patients, eg not
employed, not a medical professional...)?#
We do have patients who chose their teams and this is completed following the
‘Choice in Mental Health Care’ guidance which is attached for your information"
Can Eput confirm normal public patients have been able to choose their treatment team, please exclude NHS staff and all other people who are in the know or can pull strings or have influence etc?
I can personally say I have not been allowed the choice of team, my GP requested my choice, I have requested my choice in writing and verbally on many occasions to no avail.
Dr Karala and Dr Pillay both senior members of Eput were aware I wanted a choice, but it did not happen, so I do not know what more I can do on my side.
Therefore I have no reason to believe normal patients are able to access choice.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...
Yours faithfully,
iain gordon
Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),
i requested review and over 20 working days have past no response to my questions
Yours sincerely,
iain gordon
Dear Iain
Thank you for your email below.
Please see attached acknowledgement sent to you on 3 March 2022 that gave a date of 24 March 2022 in which to receive a response.
Regards
Legal Services
Freedom of Information / Subject Access Requests
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Runwell | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
E-mail: [email address] (Freedom of Information)
E-mail: [email address] (Subject Access Request)
Please find attached a copy of an acknowledgement sent to you on 3 March 2022 that
Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),
Sorry, as I am not following your thread at times as Epu is using different channels of communication.
And I receive a large amount of correspondence, best keep it all in one place for simplicity.
Yours sincerely,
iain gordon
Dear FOI (ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST),
For clarity
Since your reply on 17-03-2022, I have subsequently
Checked my personal email for correspondence from Eput on and around 17-03-2022.
Unfortunately, I cannot find the email correspondence you referenced in your reply above on 17-03-2022.
And therefore can I please say that I have received no email communication from Eput on 03/03/2022 (or around that date) as far as I can ascertain.
I realize you are due to reply to me soon
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 'Number of patients that have been able to access the team of their choice
Regarding
Can Eput confirm normal public patients have been able to choose their treatment team, please exclude NHS staff and all other people who are in the know or can pull strings or have influence, etc?
I would add the following
If Eput are going to answer the question above
and the answer is a yes normal patients have been able to choose their team.
Can Eput please provide an indication of the ratio of normal patients to patients that are NHS staff, people in the know, can pull strings, have influence, etc?
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...
Yours faithfully,
iain gordon
Dear Ian
Please find attached an email dated 17 March attaching a copy of our acknowledgement to you dated 3 March and an email dated 24 March 2022 seeking an extension of 7 April 2022.
Regards
Legal Services
Freedom of Information / Subject Access Requests
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
The Lodge | Lodge Approach | Runwell | Wickford | Essex | SS11 7XX
E-mail: [email address] (Freedom of Information)
E-mail: [email address] (Subject Access Request)
Dear Iain
Thank you for your e-mail correspondence below dated 29 March 2022. May I take this opportunity to confirm that we will treat this as a review of the original information sent to you in response to your request for information.
EPUT will carry out an internal review, investigating the issues / questions you have raised and provide a detailed response. The Information Commissioner considers that a reasonable time for completing an internal review is 20 working days from the date of the request for review. Therefore you can expect a response no later than 28 April 2022.
In some cases, which involve exceptional circumstances, it may be reasonable to take longer. If this is the case EPUT will contact you again and provide a full explanation as to why more time is required. However, the Information Commissioner considers that the total time taken should not exceed 40 working days.
In the meantime should you have any questions, or require further information or advice, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Kind regards
Sherine Hastings
Legal Services Coordinator
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
3rd Floor | The Lodge| Lodge Approach | Wickford | SS11 7XX
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01268 739722 / 07964 566328
Web: www.eput.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
EPUT | Working to improve lives
Dear Ian
With regards to your below request for information it is taking longer than we anticipated to collate your response. However we hope to respond to you on or before 13 May 2022.
We understand the delays may be frustrating but please do be assured that we are making every effort to respond to you at the earliest possible opportunity.
Please accept our sincere apologies for the delay.
Kind regards
Sherine Hastings
Legal Services Coordinator
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
3rd Floor | The Lodge| Lodge Approach | Wickford | SS11 7XX
Email: [email address]
Tel: 01268 739722 / 07964 566328
Web: www.eput.nhs.uk
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook
EPUT | Working to improve lives
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 'Number of patients that have been able to access the team of their choice'.
I noticed in the trust reply of today 13/05/2022, it said
"We are unsure as to what is meant by the phrase ‘or those that have any influence"
1, As I have said on many occasions previously but Eput foi has so far never contacted me to clarify my request before replying?
2, And I have told Eput on many occasions I have comprehension difficulties eg dyslexia, so I do not know what more I can do?
If Eput does not want to answer questions directly it purposely keeps the dialogue running over a few years in some cases as in my TMS choice requests. Using questionable ambiguity as a reason to provide nonrelevant answers I can only presume in the hope a requester will give up
3, So I do not know why Eput does not contact me before replying if the foi request is not clear?
Therefore as I have said I can only presume it to drag the process out and therefore Eput hopes the requester gives up in the process.
I have built up evidence of this practice since 2019. I make the request then Eput takes months to reply which is plausible but keeps this back and forth communication process running over many months to years.
Can Eput please answer this question that I asked but did not receive a response
4, I can personally say I have not been allowed the choice of team, my GP requested my choice, and I have requested my choice in writing and verbally on many occasions to no avail.
Dr Karala and Dr Pillay both senior members of Eput were aware I wanted a choice, but it did not happen, so I do not know what more I can do on my side?
5, Please explain what I have done wrong to access choice when I have spelled it out many times in emails, my GP requested my choice and I have verbally requested my choice clearly on main occasions but hit the preverbal brick wall at Eput?
For example in my trials to access choice
I have told my GP (this only person that understood) at Eput I have contacted Pals, complaints, foi, the Eput patient assessment process, and told my consultant on numerous occasions all to NO avail
6, I am not sure what more I can do or need to do?
7, My own personal experience shows that Eput blocks choice as best as it can in covert ways in every step of the process
eg ignoring, pretending to forget, not providing information when requested, or pretending choice is to do with the provider of services only and not also the team at the provider.
8, Can the trust advise how a patient access choice without hassle as so far the trust has not told me?
That is one phone or email that's all the patient has to do not 4 years of messing about as it has been in my case and still no choice.
9, If Eput says any of these questions are not foi requests can you please pass them to the Eputs complaint team to answer?
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/n...
Yours faithfully,
iain gordon
We work to defend the right to FOI for everyone
Help us protect your right to hold public authorities to account. Donate and support our work.
Donate Now
Gadawodd iain anodiad ()
Eputs response sent to my email on 13/05/2022
"1. Can the Trust confirm patients have been able to choose their treatment team, please exclude any NHS staff or those that have any influence?
Yes, patients are able to choose their treatment team. We are unsure as to what is meant by the phrase ‘or those that have any influence’ and for the reasons set out at (2) below, it is not possible to separate out which patients are NHS staff and which are not. The following therefore applies to all patients.
Community Mental Health Teams: mental health teams are based in the local area to provide treatment to people who live locally. The reason for this is that mental health must base itself around patients’ primary care teams (for example their GP and their local physical health care nurse and local social workers). This means that all people who are helping patients are working together locally to support them.
The community mental health teams prefer to work this way so we can provide care and support in a joined up way. If we do not work together in a local area, it means it is hard to bring all teams and staff together to meet patient needs, be they physical needs or mental health.
On a few occasions, some people prefer to be seen by another mental health team. If this is requested, we consider a number of solutions: 1) can they have another staff member 2) can they be seen in a different building.
If we cannot solve why the person wants a different team, we will support them with looking at other options on a case by case basis.
If the answer to the above is Yes patients can choose their team, please answer the following:
2. Can the Trust please provide an indication of the ratio of patients that are NHS staff or that have influence?
Please see our comment above regarding patients ‘that have influence’. To provide an indication of the ratio of patients that are NHS staff, would involve a manual review of all patient records. Bearing in mind the number of patients and the time that would be needed to check each record to identify if the patient was an NHS staff member, this would exceed the time and cost limits as set out in the Act of 18 man-hours. The Trust is therefore applying Section 12 of the Act (where cost of compliance exceeds appropriate time limit):"