Our ref:  MOC/ 439660

Acknowledgement : Information request

Dear D Baker

Thank you for your request for information.

I acknowledge your request to access information from NHS Blood and
Transplant (NHSBT) and am presently dealing with your request under the
terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.   We aim to reply within 20
working days, 21^st March 2022.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Wayne Lawley

Head of Corporate Communications

E-mail: [1][email address]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NHS Blood and Transplant
Do something amazing today - Give Blood.
Organ donation. The gift of life.
You can visit us at [2]www.nhsbt.nhs.uk
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The views expressed in this e-mail are those of the sender, and not
necessarily those of NHS Blood and Transplant.
This text confirms that this e-mail message and its attachments have been
swept for the presence of computer viruses by NHS Blood and Transplant,
however we cannot guarantee that they are virus free.
All e-mails and their attachments to and from the nhsbt.nhs.uk domain may
be archived, and their contents monitored.

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/

[1]NHSBT 2017 right aligned for screen or print (transparent background)

Charcot Road

Colindale

NW9 5BG

www.nhsbt.nhs.uk

Our ref: MOC/ 439660

21^st March 2022

Dear D Baker

Re: Information request

Thank you for your request dated 19^th February 2022 for information from
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) as stipulated below:

You have used the Grand in Folkestone (CT20) for many years for blood
Donations.

In a reply (made during week commencing 14th Feb 2022) to an FOI request
you stated

"....the team carried out their own risk assessment and determined the
venue (the Grand) was not fit for

purpose"

1. Can you confirm what the criteria for fit for purpose is please.

2. Can you confirm the reasons you deemed the venue was not fit for
purpose please.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 NHSBT is obliged to:

o Let you know whether we hold the information you have requested
o Provide you with the requested information, if held, (subject to any
exemptions under the Act which may apply).

I can confirm that NHSBT holds the information you have requested. 

 1. For all blood donation sessions we undertake risk assessments which
form the basis for determining whether venues are fit for purpose and
to ensure that venues meet the appropriate legal standards and are
assessed to ensure the safety of all our donors and staff. We
undertake risk assessments in a consistent and methodical manner to
ensure patient safety compliance, and if, or where, health and safety
concerns are raised, we will work with venues to put in place suitable
controls. The risk assessments review a number of criteria to
determine whether a venue is acceptable and fit for purpose, such as
confidentiality for donors, temperature, session layout, cleanliness,
lighting, drinking water, toilet facilities, ventilation and entrance
requirements.

 2. It is a requirement as part of our internal management processes and
procedures that our venue temperature is at least 16C at the start of
a session. Whilst NHSBT brought its own heaters before commencement of
the session in 21^st January 2022, having been notified in advance by
The Grand, unfortunately on the day, even with the additional heaters,
we were unable to get the room to the desired temperature of 16
degrees or more. It was for this reason that the venue did not meet
our own internal standards and not accepted for use on the day.

If you are dissatisfied with the response to your request you can ask for
a review of the handling of your request for information. Details of the
complaints procedure are below:

Any person who has requested information from NHSBT, which has been dealt
with under the FOIA is entitled to make a complaint and request an
internal review of the handling of their request if they are dissatisfied
with the response they have received. If you would like us to conduct such
a review, as per guidance from the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)
please contact us within forty working days of this letter. Please quote
the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Dan Jeffery

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) &

Assistant Director Data

And

Wayne Lawley

Head of Corporate Communications

E-mail: [2][email address]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
NHS Blood and Transplant
Do something amazing today - Give Blood.
Organ donation. The gift of life.
You can visit us at [3]www.nhsbt.nhs.uk
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The views expressed in this e-mail are those of the sender, and not
necessarily those of NHS Blood and Transplant.
This text confirms that this e-mail message and its attachments have been
swept for the presence of computer viruses by NHS Blood and Transplant,
however we cannot guarantee that they are virus free.
All e-mails and their attachments to and from the nhsbt.nhs.uk domain may
be archived, and their contents monitored.

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/