Risk assessments and mandatory face mask policy (Equality Impact/Indirect Discrimination)

The request was partially successful.

Dear Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust,

1. When were mandatory face masks for employees introduced in the Trust?
2. When was the decision taken to introduce mandatory face masks for employees in the DSD Department?
3. Who made that decision?
4. Were any risk assessments conducted prior to this to determine which roles should be covered?
5. Was any Equality Impact Assessment carried out prior to the introduction of this mandatory policy?
6. What consideration was given to those who were exempt on health grounds from wearing face masks?
7. What guidance was provided to managers as to how to deal with those exempt on grounds of disability?
8. What training was provided to managers as to how to deal with those exempt on grounds of disability?
9. What documents/templates were produced to risk assess roles to determine the need for the wearing of masks and the possibility of making reasonable adjustments for those who were unable to wear masks for reasons of disability? Please provide these templates/documents.
10. If no risk assessment has taken place What criteria has been used to determine whether it is necessary to wear face masks in a particular role?
11. How many roles have you risk assessed to determine if wearing a face mask is necessary or if reasonable adjustments can be made for those unable to wear facemasks?
12. Where it was decided that staff who could not wear face masks for reason of disability could not continue in their role what plans had the Trust made to give them to continue their work or offer alternative work?
13. Do job adverts within the Trust clearly state whether the role is open to those who are unable for reason of disability to wear a face mask?
14. How many roles within the Trust are open to those unable to wear a face mask (please breakdown by Department)?
15. Have you conducted an Equality Impact Assessment regarding those who are unable to wear face masks for reasons of disability?
16. Do you currently use CLEANSPACE HALO respirators or PPE of a similar type in any of your departments?
17. Have you considered trialing these for those who find it difficult to wear surgical masks or similar?
18. Have you conducted any risk assessments using face shields as an alternative for those who cannot wear face masks?
19. How many risk assessments have been carried out regarding the necessity of wearing face masks in particular roles within the Trust?
20. Have those risk assessments considered reasonable adjustments such as alternative masks and face shields?
21. What provision have you made for staff to take breaks where they can remove their masks?
22. Have you monitored the effect on the health and mental well-being of staff considering the duration they are wearing face masks?
23. Have Occupational Health made recommendations to the Trust concerning risk assessment of roles for those unable to wear face masks?
24. In how many cases have they made recommendations?
25. In how many cases have these recommendations been followed?
26. Where recommendations have not been followed what was the decision making process which determined that?
27. How far has the Trust considered the introduction of policy and procedures concerning mandatory face masks from the standpoint of indirect discrimination?
28. How has the Trust engaged with Trade unions in determining policy on face masks, conducting risk assessments and avoiding indirect discrimination?
29. Has the Trust refused to deal with any union which has approached them with a health and safety concern or a concern about the application of face mask policy?
30. Is the Trust willing to engage with any union which raises health and safety concerns or concerns about the face mask policy on behalf of a member employed by the Trust?
31. Is there an individual or Department within the Trust specifically tasked with overseeing risk assessments concerning COVID in general and the introduction of mandatory face masks in particular?
32. Who is/are that/they?

Yours faithfully,

Pat Harrington
General Secretary
Solidarity union

FOI (R0A) Manchester University NHS FT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Dear Mr Harrington,

We are writing to acknowledge receipt of your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Your request has been assigned the following reference number FOI 157-22 and we would be grateful if you could quote this reference number in any future correspondence relating to your request.

The Trust is experiencing unprecedented delays in many areas of our business due to the recovery from the pandemic and resources may be diverted away from usual compliance or information governance work. Whilst we will endeavour to respond to your request within the statutory time period, regrettably it may not always be possible to do so. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however we do remain committed to responding to your request and will do so as soon as we are able.

We will endeavour to respond to your request at the earliest opportunity, subject to the following constraints:-

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 defines a number of exemptions, which may prevent the release of the information you have requested. If any of the exemption categories apply, the information will not be released to you and we will advise you accordingly, including your rights of appeal.

Further information is also available from the Information Commissioner at:-
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113
Website: www.ico.org.uk

If you require any further information regarding your request please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours sincerely,

FOI Team
Informatics

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
3rd Floor, Cobbett House
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL

T: 0161 701 0375
E: [MFT request email]

www.mft.nhs.uk

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FOI (R0A) Manchester University NHS FT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

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Dear Mr Harrington,

 

Please see attached the 2 individual FOIs the Trust has received from
yourself regarding facemasks. These are referenced as 157-22 and 167-22.

 

Freedom of Information guidance states that multiple requests received
within 60 consecutive working days with the same or similar topic and from
one person or company can be aggregated, with regards to the cost of
compliance.

 

The Trust is therefore aggregating the above mentioned two requests and
will be responding accordingly.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Team

Informatics

 

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

3^rd Floor, Cobbett House

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

 

T: 0161 701 0375

E: [1][MFT request email]

 

 

 

Privacy and Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this
e-mail is intended for the named recipient(s) only. It may contain
privileged and confidential information. If you are not an intended
recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on
it. If you have received this e-mail in error, we would be grateful if you
would notify us immediately. Thank you for your assistance. Please note
that e-mails sent or received by our staff may be disclosed under the
Freedom of Information Act (unless exempt).

References

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1. mailto:[MFT request email]

FOI (R0A) Manchester University NHS FT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Harrington,

 

We are contacting you to provide an update on your FOI requests 157-22 and
167-22. Unfortunately, a response to your requests is taking longer than
initially anticipated and therefore the Trust will not be able to provide
a response to you today.

 

We apologise for this and any inconvenience this may cause. Please note we
are working hard to provide you with a response at the earliest
opportunity.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Team

Informatics

 

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

3^rd Floor, Cobbett House

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

 

T: 0161 701 0375

E: [1][MFT request email]

 

 

 

Privacy and Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this
e-mail is intended for the named recipient(s) only. It may contain
privileged and confidential information. If you are not an intended
recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on
it. If you have received this e-mail in error, we would be grateful if you
would notify us immediately. Thank you for your assistance. Please note
that e-mails sent or received by our staff may be disclosed under the
Freedom of Information Act (unless exempt).

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MFT request email]

Dear Manchester University 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 Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust's handling of my FOI request 'Risk assessments and mandatory face mask policy (Equality Impact/Indirect Discrimination)'.

I am still awaiting a response and you are well outside of the legal time limi

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,

Pat Harrington

FOI (R0A) Manchester University NHS FT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Harrington,

 

Many thanks for your email.

 

The Trust would firstly like to apologise for the delay in our response to
your 2 FOI requests 157-22 and 167-22, and any inconvenience this may have
caused. Due to the large number of questions included in your request, the
response has taken longer than initially anticipated. The Trust is working
hard to provide you with a response as soon as we are able and this has
been escalated to senior colleagues.

 

Again, please accept our apologies for the delay in our response.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Team

Informatics

 

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

3^rd Floor, Cobbett House

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

 

T: 0161 701 0375

E: [1][MFT request email]

 

 

 

 

 

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FOI (R0A) Manchester University NHS FT, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

6 Attachments

Dear Mr Harrington,  

 

Please find attached the response to your recent FOI request.

 

We apologise for the delay in our response and any inconvenience this may
have caused

 

Yours sincerely,

 

FOI Team

Informatics

  

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

3^rd Floor, Cobbett House

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9WL

 

T: 0161 701 0375

E: [1][MFT request email]

 

 

[2]www.mft.nhs.uk

 

 

Privacy and Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this
e-mail is intended for the named recipient(s) only. It may contain
privileged and confidential information. If you are not an intended
recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on
it. If you have received this e-mail in error, we would be grateful if you
would notify us immediately. Thank you for your assistance. Please note
that e-mails sent or received by our staff may be disclosed under the
Freedom of Information Act (unless exempt).

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MFT request email]
2. http://www.mft.nhs.uk/