Spinal Cord Injury Centres (REF: TCN/2018)

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Cardiff and Vale University Health Board,

I work for the Spinal Injuries Association, the leading national user-led charity supporting spinal cord injured people and their families.

Being a user led organisation SIA understand the challenges of living with a spinal cord injury. We strive to support all people living with SCI to access the services and support they need to stay healthy and live full, fulfilling and active lives.

Part of my role is to assist the Head of Public Affairs with FOI requests, such as the one that follows.

As a request under the Freedom of Information Act, please provide the following information in respect of the Welsh Spinal Injuries and Neurological Rehabilitation Unit

1. On each of the following dates, the total number of spinal cord injured people ‘registered’ at your spinal cord injury centre:

(a) 1 April 2013;
(b) 1 April 2016;
(c) 1 April 2018;
(d) 1 October 2018

Note - For each of (a) to (d) above, please exclude those people who were referred to your centre, but declined.

2. In the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013, what was the total number of spinal cord injured people (adults and children combined) admitted/seen at your spinal cord injury centre as an:

(a) inpatient or day patient;
(b) outpatient?

Note – This question focuses on the number of spinal cord injured people treated or seen, not the number of appointments. So, for example, a patient attending say three outpatient appointments in the given year should only be counted once.

3. In the period 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016, what was the total number of spinal cord injured people (adults and children combined) admitted/seen at your spinal cord injury centre as an:

(a) inpatient or day patient;
(b) outpatient?

Note – This question focuses on the number of spinal cord injured people treated or seen, not the number of appointments. So, for example, a patient attending say three outpatient appointments in the given year should only be counted once.

4. In the period 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, what was the total number of spinal cord injured people (adults and children combined) admitted/seen at your spinal cord injury centre as an:

(a) inpatient or day patient;
(b) outpatient?

Note – This question focuses on the number of spinal cord injured people treated or seen, not the number of appointments. So, for example, a patient attending say three outpatient appointments in the given year should only be counted once.

5. For each of the following years, what was the total number of attended outpatient appointments at your spinal cord injury centre:

(a) 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013;
(b) 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016;
(c) 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018.

Note – This question focuses on the number of appointments attended.

If you have any queries or require clarification on any of these questions, please contact me on 01908 694191 ext 220 or email me at [email address]

Thanks for your help with this request.

Yours faithfully,

Tim Nicholson

FOI Requests (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Dear Mr Nicholson,

I am writing in response to your e-mail below requesting information from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (the UHB) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives individuals the right to access official information. The Act allows the right to request any recorded information held by a public authority, such as Cardiff and Vale UHB. A request can be made for any information it is thought a public authority may hold. The right only covers recorded information which includes information held on computers, in emails and in printed or handwritten documents as well as images, video and audio recordings.

A request can take the form of a question, rather than a request of Medicines Management and Procurement specific documents, but an authority does not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded.

As you are making a request under the Freedom of Information Act the UHB will consider your request in accordance with the Act and in line with the appropriate guidance issued by the Information Commissioner as detailed below.

The UHB will:

• identify which questions amount to requests for information held on record;

• be ready to offer advice and assistance that is reasonable in the circumstances; and

• provide a response in line with the requirements of the legislation.

I would now like to confirm that your request has been forwarded to the relevant department to action. A further response will be issued in due course.

As your request is being dealt with under FoI, there is a deadline of 20 working days for response to be issued.

Yours sincerely,

Denise Gulley, on behalf of
Ann Morgan

Llywodraethu Corfforaethol - Uwch Reolwr Gwybodaeth a Chyfathrebu
Corporate Governance – Senior Information and Communication Manager
Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro / Cardiff and Vale UHB
Tel 02920 7443747/4870

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Denise Gulley (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Dear Mr Nicholson,

I am writing further to the below e-mail issued in acknowledgement of your Freedom of Information Act request to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (the UHB).

The UHB reasonably requires further information in order to identify and locate the information that you have asked for to ensure that it provides the correct information to you. Please note that I will not be able to take this matter further without the extra information from you.

The specific clarification required is as follows:

The total number of spinal cord injured people ‘registered’ at your spinal cord injury centre: Please could you clarify what spinal cord injuries you are requesting.

Should you wish to discuss any of the above please do not hesitate to contact me.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to:
Ms Nicola Rabone
Director of Corporate Governance
Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
Executive Headquarters
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XW

If you are not content with the outcome of any complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally the Information Commissioners Office cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the UHB.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office - Wales
2nd Floor, Churchill House,
Churchill Way,
Cardiff, CF10 2HH

Yours sincerely,

Denise Gulley

Llywodraethu Corfforaethol - Uwch Reolwr Gwybodaeth a Chyfathrebu
Corporate Governance – Senior Information and Communication Manager
Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro / Cardiff and Vale UHB
Tel 02920 743747/744870

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Dear Denise Gulley (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance),

Hopefully, this explanation of spinal cord injury will help:- https://www.spinal.co.uk/learn/understan...

Basically, we want statistics for spinal cord injury, as opposed to spinal column injury.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Nicholson

Dear Denise Gulley (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance),

Hopefully, this explanation of spinal cord injury will help:- https://www.spinal.co.uk/learn/understan...
Basically, we want statistics for spinal cord injury, as opposed to spinal column injury.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Nicholson

Dear Denise Gulley (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance),

I am still awaiting a full reply to this FOI request. I'd ask that you expedite matters and provide all the data requested as soon as possible please.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Nicholson

FOI Requests (Cardiff and Vale UHB - Information Governance), Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

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Dear Mr Nicholson,

I am writing further to your e-mail below requesting information from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (the UHB) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would in the first instance like to apologise for the delay in issuing this response.

I can now confirm that the UHB has completed a search of its records and has established it does hold information falling within the confines of your request and is in a position to respond to your request. Please see attached above the information that can be disclosed which I trust is sufficient for your purposes.

Should you have any queries or need clarification on any aspect of this response please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to:

Sian Rowlands
Head of Corporate Governance
Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board
Executive Headquarters
University Hospital of Wales
Heath Park
Cardiff
CF14 4XW

If you are not content with the outcome of any complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally the Information Commissioners Office cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the UHB.
The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office - Wales
2nd Floor Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH

Yours sincerely,
Daniel Jones
Information Governance
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
02920 744870

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