15 Marylebone Road | London | NW1 5JD
xxxxxxx.xxx.xxx@xxx.xxx
14 August 2018
Dear Ms Butcher,
Freedom of Information request
NHS Brent CCG (Ref: CCG/10627)
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request made to NHS Brent CCG.
You requested the following information:
This is a request for information submitted under the Freedom of Information Act to
the NHS Brent Clinical Commissioning Group.
In February 2017, Lord Boateng asked the government “what assessment they have
made of the measures adopted in Scotland 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/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-question/Lords/2017-01-27/HL5052/]
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/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-question/Lords/2017-07-05/HL500/] 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.
The North West London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups is a partnership of eight Clinical
Commissioning Groups working to transform the quality of health and social care across North West
London. The collaboration includes Brent, Central London, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow,
Hillingdon, Hounslow, and West London Clinical Commissioning Groups.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-
statements/written-question/Commons/2018-04-27/139045/]
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 the light of these government statements that CCGs are responsible for
commissioning services I would like to ask:
1)
Please provide copies of any policies your CGG has on the commissioning of
services for those with an FASD.
2)
What services has your CCG commissioned to meet the ‘reasonable
requirements’ as is your duty under Section 3 NHS Act 2006 of those in your area
who have or may have Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders as a result of antenatal
exposure to alcohol and what is your CCG doing to secure improvement in the
physical and mental health of persons with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and
for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of FASD (as is in your power under
Section 3A NHS Act 2006)? 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) for:
a.
prevention education following the Chief Medical Officer’s 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 years 2013- 2018 from professionals including, but
not limited to, paediatricians, GPs, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists,
speech and language therapists, mental health services and other disability support
services to provide specialised intervention services for patients on the FASD
spectrum across their lifespan?
3)
Please release any information concerning how is your CCG exercising its
duty (as specified under Section 14R NHS Act 2006) to securing “continuous
improvement in the quality of services provided” to individuals with Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders “for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment”
of FASD?
4)
What is the budget for commissioned services for FASD in the current
financial year? What was the budget in 2013, 2014, 2915, 2016 and 2017?
5) Please release any agreeds plans for service expansion for future years.
6)
Has your CCG conducted, commissioned or assisted the conduct of research
into any matters relating to the causation, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of
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Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, as is in your powers according to Section 5 NHS
Act 2006 Schedule 1 (paragraph 13).
7)
Does your CCG commission services from the National FASD Clinic? If so,
what is the budget for this?
8)
Please release any information concerning ways in which your CCG is fulfilling
its duty (specified under Section 14Z, NHS Act 2006) to promote education and
training related to FASD?
9)
Do you have a lead person in your CCG on FASD? Please provide the name
of the person responsible.
10) Please release any information concerning the steps the CCG is taking or
have you taken (according to your duty under section 14Z2 of the NHS Act, 2006), to
involve individuals with FASD or their caregivers in “planning commissioning
arrangements; in the development and consideration of proposals for change; in
decisions affecting the operation of commissioning arrangements where
implementation would have an impact on the manner in which services are delivered
or the range of services available.”?
11)
How many inquiries/requests/letters have you received from medical
practitioners or patients/families in your area related to FASD in the years 2013-
2018?
Our response to your request is:
1)
Please provide copies of any policies your CGG has on the commissioning of
services for those with an FASD.
The CCG does not have a policy.
2) What services has your CCG commissioned to meet the ‘reasonable
requirements’ as is your duty under Section 3 NHS Act 2006 of those in your area
who have or may have Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders as a result of antenatal
exposure to alcohol and what is your CCG doing to secure improvement in the
physical and mental health of persons with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and
for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of FASD (as is in your power under
Section 3A NHS Act 2006)? Please release any information you hold concerning
provision for:
a. prevention education following the Chief Medical Officer’s 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 years 2013- 2018 from professionals including, but
not limited to, paediatricians, GPs, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists,
speech and language therapists, mental health services and other disability support
services to provide specialised intervention services for patients on the FASD
spectrum across their lifespan?
The question references legislation that is not specific to FASD.
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3) Please release any information concerning how is your CCG exercising its duty
(as specified under Section 14R NHS Act 2006) to securing “continuous
improvement in the quality of services provided” to individuals with Foetal Alcohol
Spectrum Disorders “for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment”
of FASD?
Quality monitoring of commissioned services is through contract management
by a quality assurance team.
4) What is the budget for commissioned services for FASD in the current financial
year? What was the budget in 2013, 2014, 2915, 2016 and 2017?
NHS Brent CCG does not commission FASD services separate from other
neuro-developmental disorder services, and has no separate budget for FASD.
5) Please release any agreeds plans for service expansion for future years.
See above.
6)
Has your CCG conducted, commissioned or assisted the conduct of research
into any matters relating to the causation, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, as is in your powers according to Section 5 NHS
Act 2006 Schedule 1 (paragraph 13).
NHS Brent CCG is one of the largest contributors to health research, through
strictly controlled access in partnership with Imperial Health Partners. Due to
the data protection afforded to these participants, it is not possible for the CCG
to know how many participants were involved in research for FASD, or how
many studies were on FASD.
7) Does your CCG commission services from the National FASD Clinic? If so,
what is the budget for this?
No.
8) Please release any information concerning ways in which your CCG is fulfilling
its duty (specified under Section 14Z, NHS Act 2006) to promote education and
training related to FASD?
The question references legislation that is not specific to FASD. NHS Brent
commissions antenatal care (which includes health promotion) in accordance
with the national tariff for maternity care.
9) Do you have a lead person in your CCG on FASD? Please provide the name of
the person responsible.
There is no lead specifically for FASD. FASD would be part of our portfolio of
commissioned services for maternity and paediatric services.
10) Please release any information concerning the steps the CCG is taking or
have you taken (according to your duty under section 14Z2 of the NHS Act, 2006), to
involve individuals with FASD or their caregivers in “planning commissioning
arrangements; in the development and consideration of proposals for change; in
decisions affecting the operation of commissioning arrangements where
implementation would have an impact on the manner in which services are delivered
or the range of services available.”?
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NHS Brent CCG’s approach to involving patients in commissioning is detailed
in our annual Public Sector Equality Duty report and Statutory Obligations
report, available online. Families of children with Special Educational Needs
are supported by a Parent-Carer Forum, with representation in multi-agency
commissioning groups. HealthWatch Brent, as the statutory patient champion,
is actively involved in CCG commissioning.
11) How many inquiries/requests/letters have you received from medical
practitioners or patients/families in your area related to FASD in the years 2013-
2018?
It is not possible to provide this data for the period requested. From 2015 to
2018, none were received by the CCG team with responsibility for
commissioning maternity and paediatric services.
If you are dissatisfied with our response you can request an internal review of your
response by emailing
nwlccgs.ccg.foi@nhs.net. The outcome will be reported back
to you. Where you feel your request has still not been dealt with properly, you can
appeal to the Information Commissioner by writing to:
The Information
Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow SK9 5AF. Further information on the Freedom of Information Act is available at:
http://www.ico.org.uk.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
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