Services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

The request was successful.

Dear Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS 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

Foi (WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST), Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Dear Sandra

Request for Information: Freedom of Information Act

I acknowledge receipt of your request for information which I received on 23 July 2018.

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (General Rights of Access) that came into force on 1 January 2005, we have a duty to:
• Acknowledge receipt of your request within 2 working days
• Respond to your request within 20 working days

We will respond to your request as soon as possible but no later than 20 working days from our receipt of your request. If we have problems in locating the information or require clarification, I will contact you as soon as is practicable.

Regards

Martin

Martin Wood FCIS
Deputy Company Secretary

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Executive Suite, Sky Level
Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
WR5 1DD

External Office: 01905 763333 Ext 39933
Internal: 39933

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Foi (WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST), Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Dear Sandra

Freedom of Information

I refer to your email of 23 July 2018 requesting information in respect of foetal alchol disorders.

I can confirm in accordance with S.1 (1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) that we do hold some information that would be useful in terms of your request.

I have listed your questions below together with our response.

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.

No specific policies exist in Obstetrics

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; provided as general booking information given to all women regarding advice on alcohol in pregnancy
b. diagnosis for both children and adults; this is done by the community paediatricians (WHCT) for children.

c. post-diagnostic care in the financial years beginning 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

There would usually be no post-diagnostic care for FAS in itself though if children had physical effects such as heart problems or epilepsy we would support.

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.

Women with significant alcohol exposure in pregnancy as referred for Consultant led care and are reviewed re need for referral to fetal medicine service offered in house by Fetal medicine consultants which may include additional scanning and completion of a paediatric alert from.

4) Information on training provided to personnel in your Trust on FASD, or provided by others and accessed by your personnel.

No specific obstetric training

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?

Nil from acute trust; spoke with colleague from Worcestwershire Health and Care Trust (WHCT) who did not think any referrals had been made.

6) What was your budget for services for FASD in each financial year since that starting in 2013 and including the current financial year?

£Nil

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.

Not applicable as managed by community paediatricians (WHCT).

This letter confirms the completion of this request. A log of this request will be held on a database held by the Trust.

I trust you are satisfied with our response to your request. Please contact me directly should you require any clarification of our response. Should you not be satisfied with this response and wish to ask us to review our decisions please write within 3 months of this response, in the first instance to:
Chief Executive
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
WR5 1DD

If after this process you are still not satisfied with the response you receive from the Trust you can complain to the Information Commissioner at the following address:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Tel: 01625 545 745 Fax: 01625 524 510 Email: [email address]
Web Site: http//www.ico.gov.uk

Please note that we publish selected FOI requests and responses on our website www.worcsacute.nhs.uk and this response might be published at a later date.

Regards

Martin

Martin Wood FCIS
Deputy Company Secretary

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Executive Suite, Sky Level
Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
WR5 1DD

External Office: 01905 763333 Ext 39933
Internal: 39933

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Dear Foi (WORCESTERSHIRE ACUTE HOSPITALS NHS TRUST),

Thanks for your response.

Yours sincerely,

Martin Butcher