Services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust did not have the information requested.

Dear Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust,

I am writing as a volunteer researcher for the National Organisation for Foetal Alcohol Syndrome-UK (www.nofas-uk.org) to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act. I am working in cooperation with an ad hoc group of leaders from the organisation and other experts to frame and shape this research project and to analyse the information we receive.

Background

In February 2017, Lord Boateng asked the government “what assessment they have made of the measures adopted in Scotand 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/publi...

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/publi... 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. https://www.parliament.uk/business/publi...

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 light of the above information I would like to ask you to provide:
1) Copies of any policies that the Trust has on the prevention of FASD, and on the diagnosis and post-diagnostic care pathway for patients with an FASD. Also your policy on the training of Trust personnel to manage patients with FASD.
2) Any information you hold on services your Trust provided for FASD for
a. prevention education following the 2016 Chief Medical Officers’ 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 financial years beginning 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
3) Information on the number of Doctors in your Trust who currently provide diagnostic and/or post-diagnostic services for FASD? Please provide their names and posts. Whether your Trust employs specifically trained professionals, including but not limited to nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists, to provide specialised services for patients on the FASD spectrum? If so, in what specialties, and how many? Please provide their names and posts.
4) Information on training provided to personnel in your Trust on FASD, or provided by others and accessed by your personnel.
5) Information you hold on whether your Trust sends patients for FASD diagnosis to the National FASD Clinic in Surrey (https://www.fasdclinic.com/)? Did your refer any patients to the National FASD Clinic in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and in 2018, and if so, how many in each year?
6) What was your budget for services for FASD in each financial year since that starting in 2013 and including the current financial year?
7) Please provide copies of any agreed plans you have to expand the budget or services in coming years.
If you are considering rejecting this request on the grounds of the costs of responding exceeding the statutory limits then please respond to as many of the numbered items as possible within the limit, in the order they have been presented.

Yours faithfully,

Sandra Butcher

Southern Health Freedom of Information, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

1 Attachment

Dear Miss Butcher

Thank you for your email and request for information.

Please find attached our letter of acknowledgement and confirmation that this request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Should you have any queries then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Freedom of Information Officer
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Quality and Governance
6 Sterne Road
Tatchbury Mount
Calmore
Southampton
SO40 2RZ

Tel: 02380 874662
Email: [email address]
Web: www.southernhealth.nhs.uk

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Southern Health Freedom of Information, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Dear Miss Butcher

                             

We are writing to advise that the Trust is in a position to respond to
your request concerning services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

 

Please find attached a copy of our response for your attention.

 

We would advise that this request has been handled under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

 

We are obliged to inform you that all material supplied to you including,
layout, presentation, text, logos, icons, photos, and all material is
copyright © Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, unless otherwise stated.

 

You are free to use any information supplied for your own use, including
for non-commercial research purposes. The information may also be used for
the purposes of news reporting. However, any other type of re-use, for
example by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public,
will require the express written permission of the Southern Health NHS
Foundation Trust.

 

We would appreciate your feedback on how you thought your Freedom of
Information request was handled and would be grateful if you could kindly
complete a short questionnaire which can be accessed via the following
link:

 

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/TK8D3H8

 

 

If you have any complaints in respect of your information request, please
ensure you send these to the address below within 60 days of the date of
this response.   We regret that we will not respond to any complaints
outside of the 60 day period.

 

Head of Legal, Risk and Patient Safety

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

5-6 Sterne Road

Tatchbury Mount

Calmore

Southampton

SO40 2RZ

 

If your complaint is not resolved to your complete satisfaction, you have
the right to apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision.   The
Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted by way of letter
addressed to:

  

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact the Trust at the
email address shown above.

 

It would be useful if you could kindly quote the reference number shown in
any future communications.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Freedom Of Information Officer

SOUTHERN HEALTH NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Dear Southern Health Freedom of Information,

Thanks for your response, however there was no attachment, would be very grateful; to receive it.

Thanks in advance

Yours sincerely,

MartinButcher

Southern Health Freedom of Information, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

1 Attachment

Dear Miss Butcher

Thank you for your email.

We apologise for the error.

Your response is now attached.

Yours sincerely

Amanda Kimber

Freedom of Information Officer
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
6 Sterne Road
Tatchbury Mount
Calmore
Southampton
SO40 2RZ
Tel 02380 874662
Email:[email address]

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Dear Southern Health Freedom of Information,

No problem at all, thanks so much for your response.

Yours sincerely,

Sandra Butcher