Policy on elective caesarean

Greater Glasgow NHS Board did not have the information requested.

Christine Ritchie

Dear Greater Glasgow NHS Board,

I would be pleased if you could provide your policies and
procedures in relation to elective caesarean sections, both where
there is medical need, and where there is not.

I would also be greatful if you could provide information on how
somebody would request this procedure.

Finally I would like details of
1. The number of elective caesarean sections requested within the
last year, if possible divided into those where there were relevant
medical conditions, and those that were purely elective.
2. The number of these that were accepted and denied, divided into
the same categories as above.
3. The average stage in gestation that these were carried out.

Yours faithfully,

C Ritchie

FOI BOARD HQ, Greater Glasgow NHS Board

Dear Ms Ritchie

Thank you for your request for information received on 15 April 2012,
for the information as described in your email below.

Your enquiry is being handled under our procedures for requests made
under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and a response will
be issued as soon as possible or within 20 working days. If you have
any queries regarding the progress of your request please contact me at
the details below.

Yours sincerely

Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
JB Russell House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road
GLASGOW G12 0XH
Tel: 0141 201 4461
[NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde request email]

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McNeish, Alasdair, Greater Glasgow NHS Board

Dear Ms Ritchie,

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Reference 1249A

 

I write in reference to your request for information below. We continue to
treat your enquiry under our procedures for responding to requests for
information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We
endeavour to reply to all requests within 20 working days. Regrettably,
this is not always possible in every instance. I apologise for the delay
in responding to this request. We are dealing with your request and will
endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible.  Should you have any query
about how matters are proceeding with your request, please make contact
with me, quoting the reference number allocated above in the subject field
of any email correspondence.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Alasdair McNeish

Corporate Administration Officer

Acute Services Division

   

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Christine Ritchie

Dear Greater Glasgow NHS Board,

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

I am writing to request an internal review of Greater Glasgow NHS Board's handling of my FOI request 'Policy on elective caesarean'.

By law, I should have received the response with information by 14 May. I've had two responses apologising for not providing this information, with increasingly long delays, but nothing for ten days now.

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

Yours faithfully,

Christine Ritchie

McNeish, Alasdair, Greater Glasgow NHS Board

3 Attachments

Dear Ms Ritchie,

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Reference 1249A - Response

 

Thank you for your request for information as acknowledged below. We are
treating your enquiry under our procedures for responding to requests for
information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We
endeavour to reply to all requests within 20 working days. Regrettably
this is not always possible in every instance. I apologise for the delay
in responding to this request. I can confirm that NHS Greater Glasgow and
Clyde holds information as described by you. The information which we are
able to provide is set out below.

 

1. I would be pleased if you could provide your policies and procedures in
relation to elective caesarean sections, both where there is medical need,
and where there is not.

 

Please find attached the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde document “Caesarean
Section”.

 

In addition I am advised by our Clinical Services Manager for Obstetrics
that our evidence base for best practice on caesarean section is from NICE
Guidance (2011). Further details can be found at [1]http://www.nice.org.uk
. I am informed that the above contains all of the information available
to women including the change 2011 in respect of choice for women.

 

2. The number of elective caesarean sections requested within the last
year, if possible divided into those where there were relevant medical
conditions, and those that were purely elective.

 

Our Information Team have informed me that during the course of the period
1st April 2010 to 31st March 2011 the number of elective caesarean
sections carried out by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde was 2129.

 

Whilst the Information Team were able to provide detailed codes for
‘indication for operative delivery’ in a tabular format, this did not
allow me to divide these into those where there were relevant medical
conditions, and those that were purely elective. I asked the Head of
Midwifery to undertake this categorisation, however she has responded that
it would not be not possible to determine the reasons reliably based on
this information, as there could be multiple reasons for decision in
addition to those coded, and clinical decisions are made on a case by case
basis based on the professional judgement of Consultants and Midwives.

 

For this reason, I must advise you that under the terms of Section 17 of
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 this information is not held by
us. 

 

3. The number of these that were accepted and denied, divided into the
same categories as above.

 

I must advise you that under the terms of Section 17 of Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002 this information is not held by us. All
Caesarean Sections on record were carried out.

 

4. The average stage in gestation that these were carried out.

 

Our Information Team have informed me that the average stage in gestation
that these were carried out was a mean of 38.44 weeks.

 

In the first instance, should you require any clarification about this
letter please contact me quoting the reference number allocated above in
the subject field of any email correspondence.

 

If you remain dissatisfied with our response to your request, you have a
right to request a review within 40 working days of receiving this
response.  The procedure for consideration of a review is detailed in the
attached note.  The note also describes your right to pursue the matter
with the Scottish Information Commissioner if, following a request for
review, you remain dissatisfied with the decision of NHS Greater Glasgow
and Clyde. 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Alasdair McNeish

Corporate Administration Officer

Acute Services Division

 

 

ENC:

C Section.pdf

FOI Requirement for Review Procedure

FOI Review Request Form 

   

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: McNeish, Alasdair
Sent: 16 May 2012 12:23
To: '[FOI #113585 email]'
Subject: update on FOI 1249A - Policy on elective caesarean

 

Dear Ms Ritchie,

 

Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Reference 1249A

 

I write in reference to your request for information below. We continue to
treat your enquiry under our procedures for responding to requests for
information under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. We
endeavour to reply to all requests within 20 working days. Regrettably,
this is not always possible in every instance. I apologise for the delay
in responding to this request. We are dealing with your request and will
endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible.  Should you have any query
about how matters are proceeding with your request, please make contact
with me, quoting the reference number allocated above in the subject field
of any email correspondence.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

Alasdair McNeish

Corporate Administration Officer

Acute Services Division

   

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FOI BOARD HQ, Greater Glasgow NHS Board

Dear Ms Ritchie

Thank you for your note requesting a Review. I understand that you have
now been issued with a response to your request for information.

I would be grateful if you would confirm whether you still wish us to
proceed with your Review, and if so to confirm the grounds on which you
are requesting this.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your assistance in
this matter.

Yours sincerely

Alison Flynn
Freedom of Information Manager
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
JB Russell House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road
GLASGOW G12 0XH
Tel: 0141 201 4461

[NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde request email]

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