Services for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Brecknock and Radnor Community Health Council (CHC) did not have the information requested.

Dear Brecknock and Radnor Community Health Council (CHC),

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

Enquiries PowysCHC (CHC - Powys),

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Butcher

Thank you for your requests for information dated 23 July 2018, which were addressed to Montgomery Community Health Council and Brecknock & Radnor Community Health Council, which we received by email on 23 July 2018.

Both Montgomeryshire CHC and Brecknock & Radnorshire CHC were abolished in March 2015 and were replaced by Powys CHC and I am, therefore, responding in one email.

Please find attached a letter in response to your request.

Kind Regards

Andrea Blayney
Swyddog Rheolaeth Monitro a Chraffu
Monitoring and Scrutiny Management Officer
Cyngor Iechyd Cymuned Powys Community Health Council
Ty Ladywell, Y Drenewydd, Powys, SY16 1JB
Ladywell House, Newtown, Powys, SY16 1JB
Ffon/Phone: 01686 627632 

Mae’r neges hon yn gyfrinachol.  Os nad ar eich cyfer chi y bwriadwyd y neges, a fyddech cystal a’i dileu a rhoi gwybod i’r sawl a’i hanfonodd ar unwaith.  Dylid ystyried y datganiadau neu’r sylwadau a waned unchod fel rhai personol ac nid o anghenraid fel rhai’r Cynghorau Iechyd Cymuned, unrhyw ran ohonynt neu unrhyw gorff cysylltiedig.  Sylwer y gellid mynnu, o dan delerau Deddf Rhyddid Gwybodaeth 2000, bod y Cynghorau Iechyd Cymuned yn gwneud cynnwys unrhyw e-bost neu ohebiaeth a dderbyniwyd yn gyhoeddus.

This message is confidential.  If you are not the intended recipient of the message then please delete the message and notify the sender immediately.  Any of the statements or comments made above should be regarded as personal and not necessarily those of the Community Health Councils, any constituent part or connected body.  Please be aware that, under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Community Health Councils may be required to make public the contents of emails or correspondence received.

Peidiwch ag argraffu yr e-bost yma os nad oes angen.  Please do not print this email unless you really need to.

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