Taunton Gynaecological Cancer Centre's legal contract

The request was partially successful.

Katharine Tylko-Hill

Dear Sir or Madam,

1. Please would you provide a copy of the signed and dated legal contract (or equivalent DH document) which commissioned a specialist gynaecological cancer centre at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital.

2. Please would you provide a copy of the signed and dated 'get-out-clause'/legal argument which permitted Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital to function as a specialist gynaecological cancer centre despite its population size being non-compliant with the population stipulated in the DH 'Improving Outcomes Guidance for Gynaecological Cancers 1999'.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Katharine Tylko-Hill, Macmillan CancerVOICE

Renville Jade (NHS Somerset),

Dear Ms Tylko-Hill

Thank you for your request, dated 24 February 2009, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I can confirm that your request is being processed and that you will receive a written response within 20 working days.

Yours Sincerely

Jade Renville
Health Records Manager

Renville Jade (NHS Somerset),

4 Attachments

Dear Ms Tylko-Hill

Thank you for your request, received 24 February 2009, under the Freedom
of Information Act 2000. I have now obtained the relevant information and
have responded to your request below.

Question 1) The legal contract with Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation
Trust, Musgrove Park Hospital, is based on the National Standard Contract,
the use of which is mandatory as stipulated by the Department of Health.
The contract does not specifically describe all the services or include
specifications for service provision as this is not mandated. I have
attached a copy of the contract, along with a copy of the signature page,
above as requested.

Question 2) NHS Somerset does not hold any documentation in regard to
Musgrove Park Hospital being established as a specialist centre. The
proposal was set out in the Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services
(ASWCS) Network Action Plan for gynaecological cancer, agreed in 2004. I
have attached an unsigned copy above. If you wish to obtain the signed
copy this information is held by the Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer
Services (ASWCS) Network. The plan was approved by the Cancer Action Team
with Musgrove Park Hospital's status as a centre to be tested by peer
review in 2006. I have attached a copy of the peer review outcome
document which shows Musgrove Park Hospital's score of 97% against peer
review cancer centre standards.

The establishment of Taunton as a specialist cancer centre for gynaecology
was approved by the National Cancer Action Team, the Strategic Health
Authority and the Avon, Somerset and Wiltshire Cancer Services (ASWCS)
Network. The rural nature of Somerset as a county and its distance from
Bristol was a strong influence on this decision.

If you are at all dissatisfied with this response you may appeal to NHS
Somerset and we will ensure that an independent review is undertaken or,
alternatively, your next course of action is to request that the
Information Commissioner's Office review our decision in writing at:
FOI/EIR Complaints Resolution, Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe
House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Should you have any further queries or require any clarification, please
do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Jade Renville

Health Records Manger