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Freedom of Information request 026-2122

Response published: 1 April 2023

FOI Request

Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, I would like to request information under the Freedom of Information Act. Please could you provide the following information: 1. What support do you offer for the family members of patients being treated for cancer within your NHS Trust? Support can include anything that would contribute to the emotional well-being of an individual, such as support groups, counselling or advice.. 2. Does your NHS Trust provide any tailored support specifically for young people under 25s. who have family members being treated for cancer? 3. If so, please could you provide details. 4. Are services actively offered to patients’ family members, or do they have to approach the Trust themselves to request support? I would like to receive the information electronically. If you feel that a substantive response to this request is not possible within a reasonable time frame, or that the request is too broad or vague, I would be grateful if you could contact me and provide assistance as to how I could refine the request.

FOI Response

Trust HQ
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Brockworth
Gloucester
GL3 4AW

E-mail: freedomofinformation@ghc.nhs.uk Website: www.ghc.nhs.uk
DATE: 23/02/2021
Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 026-2021
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
1. What support do you offer for the family members of patients being treated for cancer within your NHS Trust? Support can include anything that would contribute to the emotional well-being of an individual, such as support groups, counselling or advice.. Within Macmillan Next Steps we offer ‘Partner’ courses covering topics for Health and Wellbeing for those supporting someone with cancer. We offer a Prostate cancer specific course for partners. We also signpost to Gloucestershire Carers for non-cancer related issues. Family members received support whilst on active treatment from Gloucestershire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust not Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust.
2. Does your NHS Trust provide any tailored support specifically for young people under 25s. who have family members being treated for cancer? Not offered as part of Macmillan Next Steps Cancer Rehabilitation specifically. Again signposting available for local support services i.e. HOPE, Charlies and Maggies Cancer Centre.
3. Are services actively offered to patients’ family members, or do they have to approach the Trust themselves to request support? The Prostate specific Partners course is offered as standard to all partners. Patients in service are triaged and have thorough assessments which would include social assessments that may highlight support needed by family members.
Should you have any queries in relation to our response in this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:-
Associate Director of Corporate Governance Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth
GLOUCESTER GL3 4AW
If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office ICO. for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Yours sincerely,
Freedom of Information Officer
On behalf of Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust