government thoroughly reviews the Breen report and takes appropriate action
Freedom of information act
health and social care MP government
Given the urgency and severity of the situation, it's imperative that the government thoroughly reviews the Breen report and takes appropriate action.
This should include a comprehensive recall of all Williamson's patients and a full investigation into the matter.
Therefore, I request, under the Freedom of Information Act, information on the government's examination of the Breen report and its proposed actions regarding Brad Williamson spinal surgeon
As it raises grave concerns about Brad Williamson, a dismissed spinal surgeon, and highlights the need for government action similar to cases like Patterson and the infected blood scandal. The Breen report underscores serious allegations against Williamson, including patient harm, sexual misconduct, and inappropriate conduct during consultations. Additionally, three former colleagues have corroborated these concerns, including bullying tactics and professional repercussions
Dear Department of Health and Social Care,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'government thoroughly reviews the Breen report and takes appropriate action'.
It's coming up to the 20 days FOI regulation
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/g...
Yours faithfully,
mr Simon wainwright
Dear Mr Wainwright,
Thank you for your request for an internal review into the handling of
FOI-1508048.
DHSC does not conduct internal reviews until a response to the initial
case has been issued. Although organisations can choose to conduct reviews
to assess the handling process where they have taken more than 20 working
days to respond, DHSC uses the internal review process once the initial
case is complete to ensure that any exemptions that have been used have
been applied correctly, and that all information within the scope of the
request was considered.
I note the Department received your FOI request on 25 April; therefore,
the 20 working day legal deadline is 24 May. We aim to respond by then. It
is our standard practice that, in the event that we are unable to respond
within the legal time frame, we will send you an advice with the reasons
for delay.
On this occasion, we will not be conducting an internal review.
Yours sincerely,
FOI Internal Reviews
Department of Health and Social Care
This e-mail and any attachments is intended only for the attention of the
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communications.
Dear Mr Wainwright,
Please find attached the Department of Health and Social Care's response
to your recent FOI request (our ref: FOI-1508048).
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
Dear Department of Health and Social Care,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'government thoroughly reviews the Breen report and takes appropriate action'.
The last response from parliament after a couple of questions from my MP mike Amsbury stated the following
In addition to the Spinal Look Back Review into previous patients’ care, the Northern Care
Alliance NHS Foundation Trust commissioned an independent barrister, Carlo Breen, to
review the Trust’s historic management of concerns raised regarding the surgeon. This PQ
relates to the findings of this report, which was published on 7 March 2024. The report
makes findings relating to bullying and speaking up, poor governance, senior leadership and
appointments, the quality of disciplinary investigations and the inadequate application of the
duty of candour.
DHSC has not made any assessment of the implications of this report on its policies. There
are however a number of existing measures and policies which are relevant to the findings
of the report by Carlo Breen This includes:
• Speaking up – The Government established an independent National Guardian
help drive positive cultural change across the NHS so that speaking up becomes
business as usual. The Guardian provides leadership support to a network of over
1000 Freedom to Speak Up Guardians across all Trusts. There is also a service for
staff who want to receive support and advice on speaking up, called Speak Up
Direct.
• Duty of Candour – in December 2023 DHSC announced that it will undertake a
review of the statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers, which
will consider the operation of the duty. On 16 April, DHSC published a six-week call
for evidence to gather views from a range of stakeholders to inform the
recommendations of this review.
• Whistleblowing – in 2018 the Government enhanced legal protections available for
whistle-blowers to prohibit the discrimination against job applicants on the grounds
that they have spoken up in the past. The Department, NHSE and all other ALBs
have whistleblowing policies and procedures in place that comply with the Public
Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and best practice guidance.A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/g...
Dear Mr Wainwright.
Thank you for your requests for an internal review into the handling of
FOI-1508048, which was sent to you in May last year.
In our FOI reply we stated, ‘If you are not satisfied with the handling of
this request, you have the right to appeal by asking for an internal
review. This should be sent to [1][DHSC request email] or to the address
at the top of this letter and be submitted within two months of the date
of this letter.’
Unfortunately, the time period in which you can request a review has
elapsed and therefore an internal review will not be conducted.
Your sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
This e-mail and any attachments is intended only for the attention of the
addressee(s). Its unauthorised use, disclosure, storage or copying is not
permitted. If you are not the intended recipient, please destroy all
copies and inform the sender by return e-mail. Any views expressed in this
message are not necessarily those of the Department of Health and Social
Care. Please note: Incoming and outgoing email messages are routinely
monitored for compliance with our policy on the use of electronic
communications.
References
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1. mailto:[dhsc%20request%20email]
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