Physician associates on doctors rotas
Dear Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the use of Physician Associates (PAs) for covering doctor shifts within your hospital/Trust. Specifically, I would like to know:
Over the last 6 months, how many doctor shifts*, categorised by department/specialty, have been covered by Physician Associates? Please include all types of shifts (day, night, weekend).
*Doctor shifts would include shifts covered by foundation doctors (FY1/FY2), locally employed doctors, core/specialist trainees and registrars. They may be refered to as 'F1 shifts', 'SHO shifts' or 'Registrar shifts', but I would advise liasing with your medical staffing team to clarify the exact terminology used by your organisation.
Yours faithfully,
Yasmin Marsh
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin
Request for Information
Thank you for your request for information. Your request was received on
04/04/2024 and we are dealing with it under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.
A response to your request for information will be sent to you promptly
and in any event no later than 02/05/2024.
The FOI Act defines a number of exemptions which may prevent the release
of the information you have requested. The information will be assessed
for these exemptions prior to us releasing the information to you. We will
advise you if we are unable to provide the information requested and will
confirm the exemption used. In addition to this, please note that there
may be a cost associated to your request in line with section 12 of the
Act. If there is a cost associated with your request, we will contact you
and explain the cost.
We may need to contact you to provide further information or clarification
if we require it to process your request. Where a public authority
reasonably requires further information or clarification before it is able
to respond to a request, it must contact the requestor within 20 days to
inform them of this and provide assistance. The authority has no duty to
comply with the request until the further information or clarification has
been received.
Our website [2]www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk provides information on how
we manage requests for information. Follow the Freedom of Information link
on the home page.
If you have any queries about this email, please contact us, quoting the
reference number above.
Freedom of Information Team
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [3][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
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Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin,
Request for Information
We are writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested.
A copy of the information is below:
Request for Information
Over the last 6 months, how many doctor shifts*, categorised by
department/specialty, have been covered by Physician Associates? Please
include all types of shifts (day, night, weekend).
*Doctor shifts would include shifts covered by foundation doctors
(FY1/FY2), locally employed doctors, core/specialist trainees and
registrars. They may be refered to as 'F1 shifts', 'SHO shifts' or
'Registrar shifts', but I would advise liasing with your medical staffing
team to clarify the exact terminology used by your organisation.
None, physician associates are not permitted to cover doctor’s shifts.
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your
own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for
the purposes of news reporting.
If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact us, quoting the
FOI reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your request,
please contact the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Lead in the
first instance. If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should write
to our Complaints Manager at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
First Floor Bowyer Building, Torbay Hospital, Torquay TQ2 7AA.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the internal
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner will only make a
decision once you have exhausted the complaints and/or internal review
process provided by us. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or through this link
[2]https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [3][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
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P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
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Dear Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's handling of my FOI request 'Physician associates on doctors rotas'.
I believe the information you have provided is incorrect.
Your reply was, "None, physician associates are not permitted to cover doctor’s shifts."
However, Physician Associates have been used to cover Doctor's shifts within your paediatric department. Current paediatric nursing staff members have confirmed this, and a copy of the paediatric rota shows a physician associate used to cover "SHO" shifts.
My request covered the number of doctor shifts covered by PAs within the last six months. I would be grateful if you could re-check the information you have provided, as I believe the answer for the number of shifts covered is not 0.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/p...
Yours faithfully,
Yasmin Marsh
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin
Request for Information TSD8038
We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 01/05/2024. As requested, we
are carrying out an internal review of our decision not to disclose the
information requested. A response to your request for an internal review
will be sent to you promptly and in any event no later than 31/05/2024.
If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact us, quoting the
TSD reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your request,
please contact the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Lead in the
first instance. If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should write
to our Complaints Officer at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
Bowyer Building, Torquay, TQ2 7AA. [2][email address].
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the internal
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
review. Generally, the Information Commissioner will only make a decision
once you have exhausted the complaints and/or internal review process
provided by us. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. [3]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Sedgeman
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [4][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
Protection and Freedom of Information legislation these contents may be
disclosed in response to a request.
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin,
Request for Information TSD8038
We recognise that our response provided on 5 April 2024 was incorrect, we
will be issuing a corrected response as soon as possible.
If you’re happy to provide this, we would really grateful if we could be
sent any supporting information for this request.
Jake Gibbons
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
Phone: 01803 654868
Email: [2][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
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Description: Description: nhs
From: TSDFT, Foi (TORBAY AND SOUTH DEVON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST)
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 9:15 AM
To: [FOI #1111589 email]
Subject: Internal review request TSD8038
Email: [3][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin
Request for Information TSD8038
We acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 01/05/2024. As requested, we
are carrying out an internal review of our decision not to disclose the
information requested. A response to your request for an internal review
will be sent to you promptly and in any event no later than 31/05/2024.
If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact us, quoting the
TSD reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your request,
please contact the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Lead in the
first instance. If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should write
to our Complaints Officer at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
Bowyer Building, Torquay, TQ2 7AA. [4][email address].
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the internal
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
review. Generally, the Information Commissioner will only make a decision
once you have exhausted the complaints and/or internal review process
provided by us. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The
Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow,
Cheshire, SK9 5AF. [5]http://www.ico.gov.uk/complaints.aspx.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Sedgeman
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [6][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
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Dear Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
Thank you for acknowledging the information provided in your original FOI disclosure was incorrect. I will await the outcome of the internal review. If you require any additional clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me. Although my request for an internal review only stated Paediatrics, I would be greatful if you would re-check with all of your departments.
For some additional context regarding the situation in your Paediatric department, you may wish to refer to an archive copy of this webpage. Unfortunately, the live page has been recently deleted.
https://web.archive.org/web/202306020419...
Yours sincerely,
Yasmin Marsh
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin,
Request for Information TSD8038
Thank you for providing this information. I can confirm we will fulfil the
request for the Trust and not just the paediatrics department.
Jake Gibbons
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
Phone: 01803 654868
Email: [2][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
Protection and Freedom of Information legislation these contents may be
disclosed in response to a request.
Description: Description: nhs
Dear Jake,
I am writing to ask if there is an update on this request. Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely,
Yasmin Marsh
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin,
Request for Information
We are writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested.
A copy of the information is below:
Over the last 6 months, how many doctor shifts*, categorised by
department/specialty, have been covered by Physician Associates? Please
include all types of shifts (day, night, weekend).
*Doctor shifts would include shifts covered by foundation doctors
(FY1/FY2), locally employed doctors, core/specialist trainees and
registrars. They may be referred to as 'F1 shifts', 'SHO shifts' or
'Registrar shifts', but I would advise liaising with your medical staffing
team to clarify the exact terminology used by your organisation.
As of 12 March 2024, following direction from NHS England we ensured that
Physician Associates did not cover Doctor shifts in any Trust department.
Therefore, the response given on 5 April 2024 in response to your Freedom
of Information Request was correct as to the Trust’s current position.
However, it was not an accurate reflection of the position for the full
timeframe within your request.
Between October 1, 2023, and March 31 2024, we can confirm that 102*
Doctors shifts were covered by Physician Associates.
*We have contacted all of our practice managers and we are awaiting the
response from one department. In order to prevent any further delay we
will send an updated response, to include this department, once this
response is received.
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your
own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for
the purposes of news reporting.
If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact us, quoting the
FOI reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your request,
please contact the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Lead in the
first instance. If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should write
to our Complaints Manager at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
First Floor Bowyer Building, Torbay Hospital, Torquay TQ2 7AA.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the internal
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner will only make a
decision once you have exhausted the complaints and/or internal review
process provided by us. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or through this link
[2]https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Team
Michael Sedgeman
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [3][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
Protection and Freedom of Information legislation these contents may be
disclosed in response to a request.
Dear FOI team,
Thank you for your clarification, it is appreciated. Do you have the breakdown of the 102 shifts by department?
Yours sincerely,
Yasmin Marsh
Good afternoon Yasmin
Thank you for your email request for a breakdown of the FOI response.
We will provide a breakdown of the figures, when we have the full figures
and reviewed the response in accordance with the FOI Act 2000.
Regards
Mike
Michael Sedgeman
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
Protection and Freedom of Information legislation these contents may be
disclosed in response to a request.
Email: [1][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request
email]
Our Ref: TSD8038
Dear Yasmin,
Request for Information
We are writing to confirm that we have now completed our search for the
information you requested.
A copy of the information is below:
Over the last 6 months, how many doctor shifts*, categorised by
department/specialty, have been covered by Physician Associates? Please
include all types of shifts (day, night, weekend).
*Doctor shifts would include shifts covered by foundation doctors
(FY1/FY2), locally employed doctors, core/specialist trainees and
registrars. They may be referred to as 'F1 shifts', 'SHO shifts' or
'Registrar shifts', but I would advise liaising with your medical staffing
team to clarify the exact terminology used by your organisation.
As of 12 March 2024, following direction from NHS England we ensured that
Physician Associates did not cover Doctor shifts in any Trust department.
Therefore, the response given on 5 April 2024 in response to your Freedom
of Information Request was correct as to the Trust’s current position.
However, it was not an accurate reflection of the position for the full
timeframe within your request.
Between October 1, 2023, and March 31 2024, we can confirm that 102*
Doctors shifts were covered by Physician Associates.
As further requested the departmental split of the shifts:
┌──────────────────────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────┐
│Specialty │Number of shifts │
├──────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│Paediatrics │ 81│
├──────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│General Surgery │ 13│
├──────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│Respiratory Medicine │ 8│
├──────────────────────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────┤
│TOTAL │ 102│
└──────────────────────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────┘
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. You are free to use it for your
own purposes, including any non-commercial research you are doing and for
the purposes of news reporting.
If you wish to discuss any of the above, please contact us, quoting the
FOI reference number above.
If you are unhappy with the way in which we have handled your request,
please contact the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Lead in the
first instance. If you wish to make a formal complaint, you should write
to our Complaints Manager at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust,
First Floor Bowyer Building, Torbay Hospital, Torquay TQ2 7AA.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or the internal
review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a
decision. Generally, the Information Commissioner will only make a
decision once you have exhausted the complaints and/or internal review
process provided by us. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane,
Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or through this link
[2]https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/
Yours sincerely,
Michael Sedgeman
Freedom of Information Team
Belmont Court | Torbay and South Devon Foundation Trust | Torquay | TQ2
7AA
' Direct Line: 01803 653472 | Internal: 53472|
* [3][Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust request email]
Working with you, for you
P Please do not print this email unless you really need to
Senders and recipients of e-mail should be aware that under the UK Data
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disclosed in response to a request.
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