racism within the NHS

Waiting for an internal review by Department of Health and Social Care of their handling of this request.

Dear Department of Health,
Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to
racism within the health services?

Does the government condone the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing? Does the government acknowledge the existence of such things?
Yours faithfully,
mathew5

Do Not Reply,

Our ref: DE-1096620

 

Dear Matthew,
 
Thank you for your email of 1 September about equality.  I have been asked
to reply.

I note your concerns. 

 

The Freedom of Information Act only applies to recorded information such
as paper or electronic archive material.  As your correspondence asked for
general information, rather than requesting recorded information or
documentation, it did not fall under the provisions of the Act.

 

Healthcare is managed locally by individual NHS trusts and clinical
commissioning groups.  The Department of Health expects that all people
seeking care should receive the highest standard of treatment and without
prejudice.

 

Any person who is a victim of discrimination by employees of the NHS
should raise a complaint with the NHS organisation concerned, through the
NHS’ official complaints procedure.  Further information can be found in
the following link:
[1]www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/complaints-and-feedback/pages/nhs-complaints.aspx.

 

I hope this reply is helpful.

Yours sincerely,
 
Rory Howard
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health

 

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Dear Department of Health,

Thanks for your response.

I presented a couple of queries. Your response of September addresses both collectively adding, that .....my queries do not fall under the provision of the Act.... You go on to explain what should happen: ....the Department of Health expects that all people seeking care should receive the highest standard of treatment and without prejudice.... and also that, complaints should be made to the NHS organisation concerned. Thank you.

My first query read: Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?

Further to your response, I wish to add the following: it is very often the case the problem is widespread; that's to say, not necessarily something resolvable locally. Ultimately the complainant is expected to exhaust local complaints procedures before escalating the matter outside local jurisdiction. At this time of course, the complainant may have already prejudiced themselves. That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify title/s of any policy (or other) document/s? That it holds no provision, would you kindly confirm.

My second query reads: Does the government condone the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing?

After reading again my query again, I reword it so: Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or, social standing? That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify the title/s of any policy document? Otherwise, would you kindly confirm.

With respect, my FOI query is not one about identifying prescribed routes of complaint or the complaints process. This is an FOI query and under section 16 of the Act you are '....obliged to provide advice and assistance....'

Yours faithfully,

mathew5

Do Not Reply,

1 Attachment

Dear Matthew,

Please find attached the Department of Health's response to your recent
FOI request (our ref: FOI-1101300  ) 

Yours sincerely,

 Edward Franklyn 

Freedom of Information team
Department of Health

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communications. For more information on the Department of Health's e-mail
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Dear Department of Health,
Thanks for your message.
Given the nature of my query, I'm not so keen to supply personal details on this occasion: doing so may prejudice me. I'm guessing you understand this nonetheless demand personal information. For my information, do you recognise my reservation in supplying you such detail? This is an FOI query and under section 16 of the Act you are '....obliged to provide advice and assistance....'
Yours faithfully,
mathew5

enc. your message:

Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health
39 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0EU
www.gov.uk
6 November 2017

Dear Matthew
Freedom of Information Request Reference FOI-1101300
Thank you for your request dated X October in which you asked the Department of Health (DH):

“Dear Department of Health,
Thanks for your response.
I presented a couple of queries. Your response of September addresses both collectively adding, that .....my queries do not fall under the provision of the Act.... You go on to explain what should happen: ....the Department of Health expects that all people seeking care should receive the highest standard of treatment and without prejudice.... and also that, complaints should be made to the NHS organisation concerned. Thank you.
My first query read: Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?
Further to your response, I wish to add the following: it is very often the case the problem is widespread; that's to say, not necessarily something resolvable locally. Ultimately the complainant is expected to exhaust local complaints procedures before escalating the matter outside local jurisdiction. At this time of course, the complainant may have already prejudiced themselves. That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify title/s of any policy (or other) document/s? That it holds no provision, would you kindly confirm.
My second query reads: Does the government condone the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing?
After reading again my query again, I reword it so: Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or, social standing? That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify the title/s of any policy document? Otherwise, would you kindly confirm.
With respect, my FOI query is not one about identifying prescribed routes of complaint or the complaints process. This is an FOI query and under section 16 of the Act you are '....obliged to provide advice and assistance....' ”

Please note, under section 8(1) of FOIA, a request for information must comply with three
requirements. It must:
(a) be in writing,
(b) state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence, and
(c) describes the information requested.
After initial consideration, this request appears to comply with requirements (a) and (c) but it does not comply with requirement (b) because you have not provided your full name. As your request is not valid under FOIA, I am not obliged to process your request. I would like to take this opportunity to recommend that any future FOI submissions adhere to Section 8 of the FOIA. To enable us to meet your request, please resubmit your application including your real name.
This should normally include your first name or a title (e.g. Miss or Dr) as well as your surname.
We will consider your resubmitted request upon receipt as long as it meets the requirements stated above. You will then receive a response from us within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.
Please be aware that we cannot guarantee at this stage that a clarified request will fall within the FOIA cost limit, or that other exemptions will not apply.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to appeal by asking for an internal review. This should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to the address at the top of this letter, or the email address at the end of this letter.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may complain directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) who may decide to investigate your concerns. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already appealed our original response, and received our internal review response. The ICO will not usually investigate concerns where there has been an undue delay in bringing it to their attention. You should raise your concerns with them within three months of your last meaningful contact with us.
The ICO can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
https://ico.org.uk/concerns/
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Officer
[email address]

Yours faithfully,

mathew5

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'.

Having not secured response it's unclear whether or not you received my query or prefer not to handle it. Given that it's been recorded 'delivered', I'm guessing the latter be true so, being the case, would you but kindly confirm you wish not to deal with it. Heres the query:

.....mathew5 13 December 2017
Delivered
Dear Department of Health,
Thanks for your message.
Given the nature of my query, I'm not so keen to supply personal details on this occasion: doing so may prejudice me. I'm guessing you understand this nonetheless demand personal information. For my information, do you recognise my reservation in supplying you such detail? This is an FOI query and under section 16 of the Act you are '....obliged to provide advice and assistance....'
Yours faithfully,
mathew5

enc. your message:

Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health
39 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0EU
www.gov.uk
6 November 2017

Dear Matthew
Freedom of Information Request Reference FOI-1101300
Thank you for your request dated October in which you asked the Department of Health (DH):

“Dear Department of Health,
Thanks for your response.
I presented a couple of queries. Your response of September addresses both collectively adding, that .....my queries do not fall under the provision of the Act.... You go on to explain what should happen: ....the Department of Health expects that all people seeking care should receive the highest standard of treatment and without prejudice.... and also that, complaints should be made to the NHS organisation concerned. Thank you.
My first query read: Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?
Further to your response, I wish to add the following: it is very often the case the problem is widespread; that's to say, not necessarily something resolvable locally. Ultimately the complainant is expected to exhaust local complaints procedures before escalating the matter outside local jurisdiction. At this time of course, the complainant may have already prejudiced themselves. That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify title/s of any policy (or other) document/s? That it holds no provision, would you kindly confirm.
My second query reads: Does the government condone the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing?
After reading again my query again, I reword it so: Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or, social standing? That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify the title/s of any policy document? Otherwise, would you kindly confirm.
With respect, my FOI query is not one about identifying prescribed routes of complaint or the complaints process. This is an FOI query and under section 16 of the Act you are '....obliged to provide advice and assistance....' ”

Please note, under section 8(1) of FOIA, a request for information must comply with three
requirements. It must:
(a) be in writing,
(b) state the name of the applicant and an address for correspondence, and
(c) describes the information requested.
After initial consideration, this request appears to comply with requirements (a) and (c) but it does not comply with requirement (b) because you have not provided your full name. As your request is not valid under FOIA, I am not obliged to process your request. I would like to take this opportunity to recommend that any future FOI submissions adhere to Section 8 of the FOIA. To enable us to meet your request, please resubmit your application including your real name.
This should normally include your first name or a title (e.g. Miss or Dr) as well as your surname.
We will consider your resubmitted request upon receipt as long as it meets the requirements stated above. You will then receive a response from us within the statutory timescale of 20 working days.
Please be aware that we cannot guarantee at this stage that a clarified request will fall within the FOIA cost limit, or that other exemptions will not apply.
If you are not satisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to appeal by asking for an internal review. This should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed to the address at the top of this letter, or the email address at the end of this letter.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications. If you are not content with the outcome of your internal review, you may complain directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) who may decide to investigate your concerns. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already appealed our original response, and received our internal review response. The ICO will not usually investigate concerns where there has been an undue delay in bringing it to their attention. You should raise your concerns with them within three months of your last meaningful contact with us.
The ICO can be contacted at:
The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
https://ico.org.uk/concerns/
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Officer
[email address].....

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

Shewbridge, James,

Dear Mathew,

You internal review request was previously allocated to a colleague but due to staffing issues has been escalated to me to complete. I will aim to do so within 20 working days.

I apologise for the delay incurred to date in dealing with your request.

Kind regards,

James

James Shewbridge
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria St
London SW1H 0EU

show quoted sections

FreedomofInformation,

1 Attachment

Dear Mathew,

Your internal review of FOI 1101300 is now complete. Please find attached our response.

Kind regards,
James

James Shewbridge
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria St
London SW1H 0EU

show quoted sections

Dear FreedomofInformation,

I acknowledge receipt your response.

You write: ..After careful consideration I have concluded that the response you received as part of your FOI request was compliant with the requirements of the FOIA. The review is now complete. .

According to Section 16 of the FOI Act, you are nonetheless obliged to give advice and assistance. There's little evidence of the same. As you are able and obliged, any guidance would be welcome.

Yours sincerely,
mathew5

Dear Shewbridge, James,

Further to my last message sent this date. You can take my name as, Domenic Bert.

Yours sincerely,
mathew5

FreedomofInformation,

Dear Mathew5,

Thank you for your further email about my response to your request for an internal review (our ref: IR 1101300)

To enable us to process your request, I would advise you to provide us with your full name, normally your first name or title and your surname.

Kind regards,
James

James Shewbridge
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria St
London SW1H 0EU

show quoted sections

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'.

I enclose response to Mr Shewbridge's query. What seems to be his problem?

"Further to my last message sent this date. You can take my name as, Domenic Bert"

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

FreedomofInformation,

1 Attachment

Dear Mathew5,

In my response to your request for an internal review of FOI-1101300 (see attached PDF), I explained that to enable us to process your request you will need to provide us with your full name, normally your first name or title and your surname.

If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. The ICO can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

https://ico.org.uk/concerns

Kind regards,
James

James Shewbridge
Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria St
London SW1H 0EU

show quoted sections

July 2018

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Thank you for your message. Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'.

My last message of June 7 was a 'Request for Internal Review'; it was not directed to the Mr Shewbridge. Whether or not Internal Review offers same response, I'd prefer the designed guidelines were followed. So, would you do me the courtesy of confirming the last message of June 22 was response to my June 7 Request for Review, from the Review Team or pass it to the Review Team. If you simply prefer not to deal with this query, that's OK, simply confirm the same.

F.Y.I. My original query reads:
..Dear Department of Health,
Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?
Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing? That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify the title/s of any policy document? Otherwise, would you kindly confirm..

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS': Having not secured response, send my message again:

6 July 2018

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Thank you for your message. Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews. I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'.

My last message of June 7 was a 'Request for Internal Review'; it was not directed to the Mr Shewbridge. Whether or not Internal Review offers same response, I'd prefer the designed guidelines were followed. So, would you do me the courtesy of confirming the last message of June 22 was response to my June 7 Request for Review, from the Review Team or pass it to the Review Team. If you simply prefer not to deal with this query, that's OK, simply confirm the same.

F.Y.I. My original query reads:
..Dear Department of Health,
Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?
Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing? That the Department recognises such things, would it kindly identify the title/s of any policy document? Otherwise, would you kindly confirm..

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

FreedomofInformation,

2 Attachments

Dear Mathew5,

Thank you for your email. James Shewbridge has now left the Department, but he was responsible for conducting internal reviews. I have taken over from him.

The purpose of an internal review is to assess how your FOI request was handled in the first instance and to determine whether the original decision given to you was correct. I cannot conduct an internal review, as your initial request was not valid and the Department was not able to provide a response to it.

As James explained, to enable us to process your initial request you will need to provide us with your full name, normally your first name or title and your surname.

If you are not content, you may complain to the Information Commissioner (ICO). The ICO can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

https://ico.org.uk/concerns

Yours sincerely,

Charlene

show quoted sections

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS' because: you fail to explain why you don't accept the name I provide.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'.

Having not received response: did you receive my message of October 2018? Are you planning to offer a response?

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5

Dear Department of Health and Social Care,

Without prejudice, please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

Having not secured response, I'm writing to request an internal review of Department of Health and Social Care's handling of my FOI request 'racism within the NHS'. Here's the query:

..Has the government compiled a set of guidelines to assist ethnic minorities subject to racism within the health services?

Does the government recognise the practice of 'herding patients' between health practices according to colour or social standing?

That the Department does recognise such things, would it kindly identify title/s of any publication?..

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/r...

Yours faithfully,
mathew5