Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 152-2026
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
1. Service Context & Care Pathway
You asked:
Does your Trust diagnose and/or treat patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)?
Our response:
Diagnose – No.
Treat medically – No.
Treat symptoms with a physical presentation – Yes – Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Psychotherapy.
You asked:
If yes, which clinical departments or specialties are responsible for CIDP diagnosis and management? (e.g., Neurology, Neurophysiology, Immunology, Specialist Neuromuscular Services)
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
Does your Trust operate a specialist neuromuscular or neuroimmunology service? If so, please provide a brief description (e.g., staffing, catchment area, referral pathways).
Our response:
Community Neurology Service is a specialist rehabilitation multidisciplinary team including: Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language therapy and Psychology covering the whole of Gloucestershire. Referrals can be made by GP, consultant, clinical specialist nurse or other allied health professionals in the first instance.
2. CIDP Patient Numbers
How many patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CIDP are currently recorded within your Trust? Please provide the most recent 12 month period available.
Our response:
Diagnosis coding does not allow for us to capture this accurately. For the most recent 12 months: 0 as far as our manual recording allows.
You asked:
If available, please provide the number of newly diagnosed CIDP patients in the same period.
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
If diagnosis data are coded, please confirm which coding system is used (e.g., ICD 10, SNOMED CT).
Our response:
Not applicable.
3. CIDP Treatment With IVIg
You asked:
How many CIDP patients received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) at your Trust in the most recent 12 month period?
Our response:
Not applicable to our Trust.
You asked:
Please provide the number of IVIg treatment episodes administered to CIDP patients in that period.
Our response:
Not applicable
You asked:
If available, please provide the total volume (grams) of IVIg used for CIDP during the same period.
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
How many CIDP patients received IVIg vs SCIg in the most recent 12‑month period?
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
If SCIg is used, please provide the number of treatment episodes and total grams administered.
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
If available, please provide typical dosing regimens used for CIDP (e.g., grams/kg and treatment intervals).
Our response:
Not applicable
You asked:
If recorded, please provide the average number of IVIg cycles per CIDP patient per year.
Our response:
Not applicable.
4. Operational & Capacity Information
You asked:
Does your Trust have a formal protocol or clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of CIDP?
Our response:
No.
You asked:
If yes, please provide a copy or link.
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
Does your Trust operate a waiting list for IVIg treatment?
Our response:
No – Not applicable.
You asked:
If yes, please provide the current number of patients waiting and the average waiting time.
Our response:
Not applicable.
You asked:
Does your Trust participate in any regional or national neuromuscular networks relevant to CIDP?
Our response:
No – Not applicable.
You asked:
Does your Trust record adverse events or complications associated with IVIg administration in CIDP patients? If yes, please provide any available summary data.
Our response:
No – Not applicable.
5. Commissioning, Governance & Funding
You asked:
Which commissioning arrangements apply to CIDP treatment at your Trust? (e.g., specialised commissioning, local ICB commissioning)
Our response:
Rehabilitation/physical presentation assessment and symptom management is covered via local funding for Community Neurology Service.
You asked:
Does your Trust use a prior approval or funding request process for IVIg in CIDP?
Our response:
No – Not applicable.
You asked:
Does your Trust participate in the National Immunoglobulin Database (NID)? If yes, do you routinely submit CIDP specific data?
Our response:
No – Not applicable.
Next steps:
Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. 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:
Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk
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.