Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 256-2025
Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.
You asked:
1. How many patients in total received ECT in 2024?
Our response:
A total of 42 patients received ECT in 2024.
You asked:
2. How many of these were female?
Our response:
A total of 29 patients who were female received ECT in 2024.
You asked:
3. How many of these were over 60?
Our response:
A total of 29 patients who were 60 and above received ECT in 2024.
You asked:
4. How many of these were under 18?
Our response:
Under 18 was “0’’ as we conduct sessions only for those 18 and above.
You asked:
5. How many were referred for psychological assessment before prescribing ECT?
Our response:
We do not hold this information in a way that can be retrieved.
You asked:
6. How many people received psychology therapy before being prescribed ECT?
Our response:
We do not hold this information in a way that can be retrieved.
You asked:
7. What measures of clinical outcome were used for patients who received ECT and what were the results?
Our response:
Measures of clinical outcomes used for patients who received ECT typically include;
- Symptom Rating Scales : Such as the Hamilton Depression Rating scale( HDRS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment ( MOCA), to measure changes in depressive symptoms, Bush Francis Catatonia Scale to measure the severity of catatonic symptoms , Young Mania scale to assess the manic symptoms and Brief Psychotic Rating Scale ( BPRS) to assess psychotic symptoms.
- Clinical Global impression ( CGI) : This scale is used to assess the severity of Illness pre-ECT with CGI ( Item 1) and to assess the progress following ECT use with CGI ( Item 2)
- Response and remission rates:
- Functional outcomes: Such as return to daily activities , occupational functioning, or quality of life measures. To assess functional outcomes, patient progress is always evaluated in comparison with their baseline performance.
Our service evaluates clinical outcomes using the tools mentioned above, also we review the clinical system documentation of symptoms improvement.
Our data show that the majority of patients demonstrate significant improvement in mood and functioning following a course of ECT.
You asked:
8. What measures of adverse effects for patients who received ECT were used, and what were the results?
Our response:
In our service adverse effects are assessed through routine post-treatment monitoring, cognitive checks, and patient feedback. The most frequently reported effects are transient headache and short-term memory difficulties, which are closely monitored throughout the treatment and 8 weeks following the last session. No serious adverse events were recorded in 2024.
You asked:
9. Which professions did the SOAD consult for patients who did not consent?
Our response:
SOADs complete Form T6 (blank example click on link below). In each case they must consult with a nurse and a second professional who is neither a nurse nor a medical doctor.
20 recent T6s have been reviewed and found the following second professionals acting as statutory consultees.
- Dietitian – 1
- OT – 7
- Pharmacist – 8
- Physiotherapist – 4
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.