Services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Dear Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership 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
Dear Sirs
Request for Information
Thank you for your request to access information in accordance with the
Freedom of Information Act 2000, dated 23 July 2018.
This was received by the Trust on 23 July 2018 and, in accordance with the
Act, the Trust has 20 working days in which to respond, ending on the 20
August 2018. An initial investigation is currently taking place into
whether the Trust holds the information you have requested and, if so,
whether the information can be released in accordance with the
legislation.
Any fees applicable to this request will be detailed in writing as soon as
they can be determined and, should any further clarification of your
request be required we will advise accordingly.
If you require any further assistance, or would like to discuss your
request any further, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned
quoting the reference number above.
Yours Sincerely
Leanne McDougall PC.dp PC.foi CertHE-Law
Head of Information Governance
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Information Governance Department
St Michaels House
St Michaels Road
Sittingbourne
Kent, ME10 3DW
01795 514507
07468 763793
[1][email address]
[2][email address]
[3]www.kmpt.nhs.uk
Twitter: kmptnhs
Facebook: kmpt.nhs
[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D33770.43B8B680
If you have a Freedom of Information Request please email
[5][email address]
This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If you
are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies. Please do not
disclose copy or distribute information in this email or take any action
in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be
unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before
deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
References
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2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.kmpt.nhs.uk/
5. mailto:[email address]
Dear Sirs
Request for Information
I write further to your request FOI ID 15030 under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 regarding:-
FASD
Following an investigation and search of our records I can confirm the
following Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT)
information:-
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
([1]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.
Please be advised that KMPT do not provide a specific service for the
treatment of FASD. Any individual presenting with FASD would be managed
according to their needs by the most appropriate service.
I confirm that the information above/attached completes your request under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I am also pleased to confirm that no
charge will be made for this request.
If you have any queries about this response please contact me. Please
remember to quote the reference number above in any future communication
Yours Sincerely
Leanne McDougall PC.dp PC.foi CertHE-Law
Head of Information Governance
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Information Governance Department
St Michaels House
St Michaels Road
Sittingbourne
Kent, ME10 3DW
01795 514507
07468 763793
[2][email address]
[3]www.kmpt.nhs.uk
Twitter: kmptnhs
Facebook: kmpt.nhs
[4]cid:image001.jpg@01D33770.43B8B680
If you have a Freedom of Information Request please email [email address]
This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If you
are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies. Please do not
disclose copy or distribute information in this email or take any action
in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be
unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before
deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
Dear Ig (KENT AND MEDWAY NHS AND SOCIAL CARE PARTNERSHIP TRUST),
Thank you for your response
Yours sincerely,
Martin Butcher
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