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NDAs and Settlement Agreements

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

For the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025:

1. How many Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), also referred to as confidentiality clauses were signed with staff (current or former) by your organisation?
2. Of those NDAs, how many were part of settlement agreements related to:
a) Complaints of bullying or harassment
b) Complaints of discrimination (on any protected characteristic)
c) Whistleblowing
d) Other reasons (please specify if possible)
3. What was the total amount of money paid out in settlement agreements that contained NDAs?
4. What is the highest individual settlement amount paid in this period as part of a settlement agreement that contained an NDA?

Please include any available breakdowns by department, staff role, or type of claim where possible.

If it is not possible to provide all of the information requested, please provide as much as you are able to within the appropriate cost and time limits.

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Patient Engagement Portal

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act to request answers to the following questions:

1. Has the trust implemented a Patient Engagement Portal (also known as a Patient Portal)?
2. If so, please provide the name of this solution, and the name of the company that supplied it.
3. When was this solution procured?
4. Does the trust have any plans in the near future to replace this solution?

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Utilisation of Insourcing

Please can I request the below information on the utilisation of Insourcing for the following period 01/01/2025-31/03/2025

• Total spend during the period for Insourcing for the below specialties:

• Neurology
• Neurophysiology
• Dermatology
• Gastroenterology
• Endoscopy
• Cardiology
• Respiratory
• Orthodontics / Dental
• OMFS
• ENT
• Rheumatology
• Gynaecology

– Please break the spend down by insourcing company

• Please confirm if there was a budget for insourcing for the specialties outlined during the same period

• What was the service type relating to the specialties outlined, for example, outpatient, diagnostic or theatres.

• Was it a fully managed service or Team provision

• Please can you confirm the Frameworks utilised for each specialty

• Please confirm any direct awards or mini competitions which are being utilised for each specialty

• Total procedures completed by insourcing companies for the specialties outlined during the same period

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NHS Trust Estates Capital Investment plans

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from your organisation. Please may you provide me with an answer to the following:

FOI NHS estate capital investment plan questions

1. What are your Trust’s capital investment priorities over the next five years?

2. How much capital funding has the Trust been allocated for estates development this financial year (2025/26), or (where unknown) how much is the Trust expecting to be allocated?

3. Are there any confirmed or proposed capital investment projects at your Trust relating to new healthcare facilities, such as new hospital buildings, Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), surgical hubs, new wards, theatres, pathology labs, or aseptic units? If so, please provide details, including the nature of these plans, current stage of planning, whether a construction partner has yet been contracted, project scopes, estimated costs, timelines, and contact details for the project’s Senior Responsible Officer (where available).

4. If there are any current OPEN procurement opportunities (e.g. expressions of interest or opportunity notices) related to construction projects at your Trust, please provide links to the tender notices where available, and contact details for the relevant department or individual(s) responsible for these projects?

5. Who within the Trust is responsible for overseeing estates development and capital projects (e.g. Director of Estates)? Please provide name and contact details where possible.

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Cancer Treatment

I would be grateful if you could please answer the following question with regards to cancer treatment:

In the last 12 months, how many unique patients in your trust have been treated privately for the following ICD-10 codes?

A) C61 Malignant neoplasm of prostate
B) C16.0 Malignant neoplasm of the gastroesophageal Junction

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Review and Action Plans regarding Homicides by Services Users

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I would like to request the following information:

1. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review of all homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.
2. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review of the action plans relating to homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.
3. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review monitoring of the action plans relating to all homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.

A homicide conducted by a patient is an incident which would be recorded in each Trust’s DATIX patient safety electronic software (or equivalent). As I understand it all Trusts have an obligation to report patient safety incidents and their response at designated intervals to NHS England and other regulatory bodies such as the CQC and NHS Improvement. As a result, the information which I have requested from the Trust may already have been generated and collated.

I am aware that NHS England publishes reviews of selected homicides conducted by NHS patients and that the results of those reviews are published in part on their website. However, the actions which are taken to promote patient safety at individual Trust level following such a homicide and the monitoring of the success of those actions are not included in the publications made by NHS England. In addition, NHS England is not under an obligation to publish reviews of all homicides involving NHS patients.

My request does not refer to information which would cause individuals to be identified as it is relates to governance as opposed to individual patient care.

As I do not have a detailed knowledge of the way in which you organise and structure your governance records or the terminology which you use to describe and classify your information internally, I believe that the following additional information may be helpful in relation to each of the categories of documentation which I have requested:

In relation to each of the homicides committed by Trust service users I require the following information:

1. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review of homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.

This includes:

• Minutes and Reports of Board and Senior Management meetings which reviewed or discussed the learning generated by the homicide.
• Minutes of Meetings between the Trust and Stakeholders to discuss outcomes of learning.

2. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review of the action plans relating to homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.

This includes:
• Detail of the consideration of the monitoring and construction of action plans by the Board and Senior Management
• Reporting arrangements between management team and Board regarding optimising learning from the event and support for staff.
• Minutes and Reports of Board and Senior Management meetings
• Minutes of Meetings between the Trust and Stakeholders to discuss outcomes of learning from the homicide and necessary funding
3. Board (and associated Committees) and Senior Management Review monitoring of the action plans relating to all homicides committed by service users whilst under Trust care between 2014 and 2020.
This includes:
• Minutes and Reports of Board Senior Management and stakeholder meetings which relate to the monitoring of the action plan
• Data and statistics gathered to monitor systemic changes made following implementation of action plan.
I should like to point out that notwithstanding any concerns which the Trust might have regarding the costs associated with this disclosure, Section 12(2) of FOI makes it clear that the Trust has a duty, to inform applicants, such as myself, as to whether it holds the information which I have requested.

Further, if the Trust seeks to raise an issue with regard to the costs associated with this disclosure in accordance with section 12 of FOI, I would request that a detailed estimate is provided in light of the fact that much of the information which I have requested can be readily identified through use of existing Trust governance and patient safety systems.

I would again take this opportunity to reiterate that it is information relating to the monitoring of systemic change implemented by the Board following such a patient safety event of this nature through its existing governance framework (including information governance) rather than information relating to the individual patient’s care that this FOI request relates to.

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Histopathology Department

Under the Freedom of Information Act (2000), please provide the following information:

In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.3ppm but less than or equal to 0.4ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.4ppm but less than or equal to 0.5ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.5ppm but less than or equal to 0.6ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.6ppm but less than or equal to 0.7ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.7ppm but less than or equal to 0.8ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.8ppm but less than or equal to 0.9ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 0.9ppm but less than or equal to 1ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 1ppm but less than or equal to 1.5ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that are greater than 1.5ppm but less than or equal to 2ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department? In the past 12 months, on how many separate occasions have formaldehyde levels been recorded that exceed 2ppm in the Trust’s Histopathology Department?

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Solar Panels

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Please could you provide the following information:

• The names of the companies that installed the solar panels at Charlton Lane; Stroud General Hospital; Cirencester Hospital. Please state which companies relate to which sites.
• The names of the company / brand that manufactured the panels installed at each site.
• Any internal or external correspondence that discusses the risk of slave labour from the Xinjiang region being a part of this supply chain.

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126-2023

RE: Request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Dear Information Team
This is an information request relating to EHIC cards.
Please include the following information for the 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 financial years:
• How much has the organisation spent broken down by financial year. on providing treatment to foreign patients supplying an EHIC card
• How much has been recovered broken down by financial year. from the relevant health authorities for treatment provided through EHIC
If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request.
If you have any queries please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or phone and I will be very happy to clarify what I am asking for.
I would prefer a response via email, but if this is not possible, I will gladly accept letters to the address below.
Please acknowledge this information request as soon as possible.

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123-2023

I’d be grateful if you could provide me with details of which hospitals. within your trust area:
1. Have medical staff/surgical team trained to carry out bloodless surgery.
2. Have autologous blood transfusion and patient’s own cell salvage equipment available.
3. Keep stocks of synthetic blood transfusion substitutes.

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085-2023

Dear Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust,

Please can you provide the data that answers the following questions:

– What is the current waiting time from referral to first appointment for mental health therapy in general, and what was the waiting time 1, 5, and 10 years ago?

– What is the current waiting time from referral to first appointment for the following, and what was the waiting time 1, 5, and 10 years ago?
Cognitive behavioural therapy CBT.
Guided self-help
Counselling
Behavioural activation
Interpersonal therapy IPT.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing EMDR. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy MBCT. Psychodynamic psychotherapy Couple therapy

– What other mental health therapy options do you offer and what are the waiting times from referral to the first appointment, currently, 1, 5, and 10 years ago?

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076-2023

Request 1
Please confirm or deny if Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust has a specific policy on provision of support for all forms of infant feeding, specifically breastfeeding, formula feeding, and combination feeding.
If confirm, please provide a copy of this policy.
Request 2
Please confirm or deny if Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust holds information on the number of infants breastfed, formula fed, and combination fed.
If confirm, please release this data.
Request 3
Please confirm or deny if Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust provides information on all forms of infant feeding including breastfeeding, formula feeding, and combination feeding. at the 28-week antenatal appointment as outlined in the NICE guideline NG201, post-birth before the family has been discharged and at any other times.
If confirm, please provide a copy of the information on infant feeding that is provided and confirm how as well as when it is delivered.
Request 4
Please confirm or deny if Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust requires mothers to sign a consent form before any information or advice is given on formula feeding OR before an infant receives formula milk in the hospital instead of or alongside breastmilk.
If confirm, please publish a copy of the associated policy and corresponding form.
Request 5
Please confirm or deny if Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust holds information on the number of infants admitted with malnutrition every year, over the last 5 years.
If confirm, please release this data and please publish the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust policy for addressing infant malnutrition.

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063-2023

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information. Please will you provide me with information relating to the waiting lists for Adult and CYP ADHD and ASD referrals. I am seeking:
ADHD
• How many adults are waiting for a first appointment following referral?
• How many CYP are waiting for a first appointment following referral?
• How long are Adults waiting for a first appointment?
• How long are Adults waiting for an assessment and diagnosis?
• How long are CYP waiting for a first appointment?
• How long are CYP waiting for an assessment and diagnosis?
ASD
• How many adults are waiting for a first appointment following referral?
• How many CYP are waiting for a first appointment following referral?
• How long are Adults waiting for a first appointment?
• How long are Adults waiting for an assessment and diagnosis?
• How long are CYP waiting for a first appointment?
• How long are CYP waiting for an assessment and diagnosis?
Please provide the information in the form that is most convenient to the Trust.

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502-2023

I write under the Freedom of Information Act to request the following information:
What is the furthest that a patient under the care of your trust has been sent in miles. for an inappropriate out of area placement in each of the following years, and the name of the receiving provider to which they were sent:
a. 2022
b. 2021
c. 2020
d. 2019
e. 2018?
If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12 of the FOI Act, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request.

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500-2023

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from your Trust. Please may you provide me with:

1. The number of days on average, from referral to completion of treatment, for Children and Adolescents Mental Health Service CAMHS. patients, by financial year, since 2010.

2. The single longest number of days from referral to completion of treatment, for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service CAMHS. patients, by financial year, since 2010.

If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email and I will be very happy to clarify what I am asking for and discuss the request.

Please provide this data in a table format.

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Medical Appraisal and Revalidation Processes

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from your NHS Trust about appraisal and revalidation process and resources for your medical staff. Please may you provide me with:

1. How many consultant doctors do you appraise and revalidate?
2. How many non-consultant doctors do you appraise and revalidate?
3. How many trained appraisers do you have?
4. How many Programmed Activities are paid per appraiser for fulfilling this function (if any)?
5. How many appraisals per year are appraisers expected to complete?
6. How many Programmed Activities are paid for an appraisal/revalidation lead role (if any)?
7. Which appraisal support software do you use (eg Allocate, Zircadian, L2P, Equiniti, Clarity, FourteenFish etc)?
8. Which revalidation support software do you use, if different from the appraisal software?
9. How many whole-time equivalent posts, and at what banding levels, do you employ in medical staffing/HR/other relevant departments to support the medical appraisal and revalidation processes in your Trust?

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IV Fluid Bags

I am writing to ask for some information under a freedom of information request.

Specifically please could you provide me with the following information:

1. Over the last 5 years how many IV fluid bags have been bought/used by your trust (can you please give in X bags/year)?

2. For the amounts in answer 1, can you advise what different types were used ie what was the saline concentration, different size bags, any bags containing pre-mixed medication other than saline etc?

3. What brands/makes of IVbags do you purchase? Are they bought directly from the manufacturer or via a distributor?

4. Is there a contract in place for purchasing IV Fluids, and if so when does the current contract expire?

5. What is the average unit price for normal saline solution? Has this price changed in the last 5 years?

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Community/Patient Public Involvement on Research Board

May I please ask for the following information under the FOI act.

1. Does your NHS Trust/Board have an executive board where health research strategy for the hospital/s is set? e.g a Research and Innovation Board or other relevant high-level board.
2. If yes, is there a PPIE (patient public involvement engagement) representative on this board with the specific remit to provide insights into research agenda setting from the perspective of a patient with lived experience of health issues or as a member of the public/community? [I am not referring to the presence of a lay chair].
3. Is there a PPIE advisory structure (e.g. board, committee, panel) which provides PPIE insights to inform the work of the executive board? (not within individual study groups- I refer to high level feedback into your research strategy meetings).
4. If yes to question 2, 3, 4 or 5, please provide the most recent minutes/agenda with a list of members with designated roles/remits (not names).
5. Are PPIE representatives remunerated?
6. Do you require PPIE representatives to do any training? If yes, please specify e.g NIHR training or in house-training.
7. I realise that some of this information may already be available. However, I was unable to locate it. So, if it is, please provide me with a link to the data.

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Admissions Involving the Insertion of Objects

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:

For the period from January 2019 to the most recent available data, please provide the following details relating to admissions involving the insertion of objects into the anus or vagina.

• The total number of incidents recorded per year.
• The age and gender of the individual involved in each incident (if available and anonymised).
• A brief description of the incident or nature of injury and if the insertion was accidental or deliberate (if available and anonymised).
• The item used – including but not limited to sex toys, household objects, and food.

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Physical Aggression in Mental Health Services

Please provide the following information for the financial year 2023/24:

1. The number of whole-time equivalent nursing staff (registered nurses and healthcare assistants) working in clinical roles in your mental health services.
2. The number of incidents of physical aggression towards these staff in your mental health services.
3. The number of incidents of physical aggression in your mental health services where any reference is made to a hijab/headscarf/burka.
4. A copy of your uniform policy.

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PPI Medication to Treat Eosinophilic Oesophagitis in Children

Please can you state if the Trust typically informs individual clinics regarding FOI requests made by the public. If this is not routine, please indicate circumstances when a clinician would be informed regarding a FOI request.

Did the hospital trust use high dose PPI medication, e.g. omeprazole to treat Eosinophilic Oesophagitis (EoE) in children before June 2018?
2. When did the use of high dose PPI become routine treatment for
EoE?

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Installation Contractor Details

I would be most grateful if you would provide me, under the Freedom of Information Act, details in respect to the contract below.

Boiler Room Sitewide

The details we require are:

Who is the senior officer (outside of procurement) responsible for this contract?

Who would be the installation contractor?

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Contracts for Transport/Warehousing

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to have the following information in possession of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust in Microsoft Excel format please:

1. Details (Supplier Name, Type of Service, Value, Expiry Dates) of Contracts the Trust holds with suppliers of transport, courier and delivery services (including taxi services)
2. Details (Supplier Name, Type of Service, Value, Expiry Dates) of Contracts the Trusts holds with suppliers of logistics, warehousing and off-site storage services
3. Names and contact information for staff members at the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust who are responsible for procuring and managing the above contracts

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Agency Nursing

Please can you provide the below information:

In the period 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025 please provide a breakdown of:
Total trust spend with framework agencies for locum nurses
Please provide a further breakdown for locum nurses by:
Spend per band
Spend per specialty
Spend per agency name

In the period 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025 please provide a breakdown of:
Total trust spend with off framework agencies for locum nurses
Please provide a further breakdown for locum nurses by:
Spend per band
Spend per specialty
Spend per agency name

In the period 1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025 please provide a breakdown of:
Total trust spend with the internal trust bank or associated external provider for locum nurses
Please provide a further breakdown for locum nurses by:
Spend per band
Spend per specialty
Spend per agency name

Please confirm the total number of nursing shifts booked during this period for all agency nursing only, no bank staff nursing to be included (1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025)

Please confirm the total number of nursing shifts booked above NHSE capped rates during this period for all agency nursing only, no bank staff nursing to be included (1st January 2025 to 31st March 2025)

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Independent Investigations

1. Please state how many independent investigations have been conducted into GHC Trust since Jan 2022

2. Please provide a copy of the ToRs of independent investigations since Jan 2022

3. Please provide a copy of the learning identified through independent investigations since Jan 2022

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NHS Car Parking Fines

Please provide me with the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

Based on your latest available data, how many fines have been handed out to members of staff at your Trust in 2024 for issues related to car parking? This could include parking in the wrong area, not having a permit etc.

If possible, please provide data broken down by year by calendar year.

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Plastic Bags in Mental Health Wards

I am writing to you to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act.

1a: Are plastic bin liners used on psychiatric inpatient wards run by your Trust?
b: If they are not allowed, when were they prohibited?
c: How many incidents of inpatient self-harm involving plastic bin liners have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
d: How many inpatient deaths involving plastic bin liners have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?

2a: Are other types of plastic bags (i.e. not bin liners) allowed into psychiatric inpatient wards run by your Trust?
b: If they are not allowed, when were they prohibited?
c: How many incidents of inpatient self-harm involving plastic bags (excluding bin liners counted above) have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?
d: How many inpatient deaths involving plastic bags (excluding bin liners counted above) have there been in the last five years (specifically 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024)?

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Pay-outs for Nurses following Employment Tribunal

I would like information on employment tribunal (ET1) claims involving nursing staff at your organisation.

Please answer the following 4 questions under the Freedom of Information Act and see example answers as a guide.

For each financial year between 2020 and 2025 (or the latest available date), please provide yearly figures for the below:

1. The number of employment tribunal claims bought by nurses, trainee nurses and nursing associates against the trust. [example answer: 2020 – 0, 2021 – 2, 2022 – 0, 2023 – 1, 2024 – 1]

2. The outcome from each claim [E.g. withdrawn, won, lost- e.g: In 2020, 1 was in favour of the claimant, 2 were in favour of the respondent, 1 was discontinued/settled out of court]

3. How many cases each year led to an employment tribunal ruling the organisation must pay costs to the claimant, and how much was paid [example answer: 2020 – 1 case, £0 paid; 2021 – 2 cases, £12,000 paid; 2022 – 3 cases, £0 paid; 2023 – 0 cases, £0 paid, 2024 – 3 cases, £0 paid]

4. If possible, please break down each claim by type [e.g. public interest disclosure, unfair dismissal, discrimination]

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Anxiety Disorders

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information:

The number of patients at your trust treated for the following issues:
• IDC-10 code F41.9 Anxiety Disorder Unspecified
• IDC-10 code F41.1 Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Please provide a breakdown of patients for these conditions by age, and gender where possible for each of the following years:
• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021

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Incidents Reviews

Under the FOIA, please could you provide the following reviews mentioned in the ‘quality dashboard’, published in January 2025 board papers:

Please provide copies of these reviews, and detail the full findings of each review, and the resulting actions from the trust/ system.

Please note I’d like to see the specific findings of each review, rather than summaries.

– “The 78 incidents reported by MIIUs related to the pathway from the NHS 111 service and wider IUCS service are subject to a task and finish group review led by the GHC IUCS Governance Lead. All incidents where harm is unknown/suspected are subject to an end-to-end pathway review with input from the IUCS Clinical Lead”.

– “The sustained trend of high use of Rapid Tranquilisation (RT) has seen a rise to 110 incidents in December 2024. The Positive and Safe Group have confirmed this relates to care of specific patients at Wotton Lawn Hospital, for which individualised care plans are in place. Quality Committee received a deep dive into restrictive practices in November 2024 but has sought a further overview of details related to rapid tranquilisation given the sustained levels.”

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Complaints Regarding Staff Member’s Uniforms/Appearance

I would like information on complaints received by your hospital relating to staff member’s uniforms/appearance.

Please answer the following four questions under the Freedom of Information Act and see example answers as a guide.

Please could you provide the following information:

1. What was the total number of complaints received by the Trust in the financial year between April 2023 – March 2024, and in the financial year from April 2024 to date [example answer: 2,034 between April 2023 – March 2024, 1,999 between 1 April 2024 – present day]

2. How many of those complaints related to the uniform, appearance or dress code of staff members (including but not limited to concerns about tattoos, hair colour, piercings, political or religious symbols/statements, hygiene or adherence to uniform policy)? Of those, how many complaints related to nurses. [example answer: 12, of which 3 related to nurses]

3. What did the complaints with regards to the uniform, appearance or dress code specifically relate to? [example answer: nurse had multiple visible tattoos]

4. What was the outcome of the complaints? [example answer: upheld, not upheld, partially upheld]

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Clinical Vacancy Rates

Please can you provide the current vacancy rates for the bellow staffing groups-

• Medical
• Nursing and Healthcare Assistants
• Scientific, Therapeutic and Technical (STT) and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)
• Healthcare Scientists
• Administrative and Support Staff

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Federated Data Platform

This is a Freedom of Information request for information relating to the letter this summer from Dame Emily Lawson and Vin Diwaker, to all trust executives and COOs, asking them to confirm “that [they] plan to adopt the NHS FDP in the next two years”.

I would like to see all emails, documents, attachments, and any other forms of response relating to this request between Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust and the two senior NHS officials.

It is public information that you have been asked to inform the NHS when you “envisage adopting already available nationally commissioned local Products”.

I would like to know when specifically you plan to start adopting the FDP and who you are naming as lead (as is requested in the letter)?

I would also like to know what your plans are for how you will maximise the benefits of the Federated Data Platform to deliver better joined-up care for their patients within the next two years (again, asked of you in the above mentioned letter)?

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Specialist Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Team

The Specialist Treatment and Recovery (STAR) team is a team commissioned by GICB to provide assistance with complex mental health needs that cannot be met by existing commissioned services.

Firstly can you provide all information you have regarding the responsibility, duties and aims of the STAR team? Are they a subsection of the recovery team? What facilities, treatments and resources do they have access to? Are they supposed to interact with patients directly or do they possess a more bureaucratic role or do the members provide treatment themselves?

Secondly can you provide a contact email address for the STAR team.

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Risk Management

Could you advise the following about your use of Risk Management systems in your trust?

1. What risk, compliance or incident management software do you currently use?

2. Which vendor provides this software?

3. What is your annual license fee for this software?

4. When is the contract renewal date for this software?

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Colposuspension – Management of Urinary Incontinence in Women

I am conducting a research project to compare the safety and efficacy of permanent versus absorbable sutures in Colposuspension for the management of stress urinary incontinence in women. I would be grateful if you could help me with this data.

From your hospital surgical database, please can you provide us with:
1. the number of Colposuspensions conducted in your unit between January 2020 and January 2025.
Of these, please clarify how many were conducted:
-open
-laparoscopically
-robotically

2. How many of these cases have needed to go back to theatre for any procedure under the care of urogynaecology/gynaecology/urology since the initial operation?
Please state, what procedures they then underwent.

The following questions, may be known by the theatre team via the surgeon’s cardex (information sheet which each surgeon will have with their preference of equipment for each operation) for Colposuspension. In the worst case, it may need to posed to the surgeons who usually perform colposuspensions but should be a quick answer:

“Which suture material is routinely used to suture onto the iliopectineal ligament in open cases? Please state name of suture or N/A if this route of colposuspension is not performed.”

“Which suture material is routinely used to suture onto the iliopectineal ligament in laparoscopic cases? Please state name of suture or N/A if this route of colposuspension is not performed.”

“Which suture material is routinely used to suture onto the iliopectineal ligament in robotic cases? Please state name of suture or N/A if this route of colposuspension is not performed.”

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Mental Health Patient Homicides

1) Of the four homicides which the trust indicates have occurred since 2019, how many of these have undergone independent investigation under HSG 94/27?

2) If any HSG 94/27 reports have not been published, please can the trust explain why this is so.

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Memory Assessments

I am writing to you on behalf of Alzheimer’s Research UK (Registered charity number 1077089) under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information from Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Please can you provide us with the following:

A. The number of memory assessment services that you operate.

B. The area covered by each of these memory assessment services.

For each individual memory assessment service you operate:

1. The service’s annual funding for each of the years 2018-2024 inclusive.

2. The source/s of funding for the service for each of the years 2018-2024 inclusive.

3. The total annual number of patients seen by the service for each of the years 2018-2024 inclusive.

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Doctors Ethnic Groups – Bands – Complaints

1. How many doctors work for your trust? By the term doctor, I mean those who treat patients, not those with a PhD, and/or who are not clinicians.
2. Break these into their ethnic groups and their corresponding grades e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you ethnically monitor your staff. If, for example, positions have fewer than five doctors in their grade and ethnicity, please use an asterisk and explain there are fewer than five.
3. Provide a key to explain your grading system e.g. lowest to the highest band or vice versa.
4. In the following years, how many complaints did you receive about doctors under MHPS during the following years? 1 Jan-31 Dec 2021; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2022; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2023; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2024.
5. Please break these down into ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data for the corresponding years. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.
6. Of these complaints, how many resulted in your investigating them? Please list these in the corresponding years.
7. Please break these down into ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data for the corresponding years. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.
8. Of these investigations, how many resulted in a sanction, adverse judgement or other disciplinary action? Please be clear about what the sanction was. Please list these in the corresponding years.
9. Please break these down into ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data for the corresponding years. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.
10. Of all complaints how many resulted in a doctor being suspended during the inquiry? Please list these in the corresponding years.
11. Please break these down into ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data for the corresponding years. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.
12. Of all the complaints how many did you refer the doctor to the GMC? Please list these in the corresponding years.
13. Please break these into ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data for the corresponding years. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.
14. During your considering complaints, what is the average length of your investigations?
15. Please give the average length of your considering a complaint in terms of ethnic groups e.g., white, black, Asian or whichever way you record your data. If your numbers are fewer than five, then use an asterisk.

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Bariatric Surgery

We are trying to determine the number of patients that are currently on the waiting list for bariatric surgery across the country i.e. they have been assessed as eligible and meet all the criteria for surgery and are now waiting for a surgical date. With that in mind please could you pass to us any information you have to address the following questions:

• How many referrals have you had into your Tier 4 Bariatric Services within the past year?
• What is the average time between their RTT into Tier 4 service and their first appointment in clinic?
• If you do not have a Tier 4 service in your Trust, how many patients have you referred to neighbouring Trust within the past year?

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Exceptions for Routine Treatment Implants

I understand that whilst the Sexual Health team do not provide routine treatment regarding certain implants, exceptions may be made for certain groups. Please could you share a copy of the exceptions list / exceptions policy?

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Formularies and Committees

We would like to request the following information from Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust

1) We have the following formularies listed as used by the organisation:
Gloucestershire Joint Formulary
Please confirm if this is correct and if not, please provide any relevant online links or copies of formularies.

2) We understand the following committees maintain the formularies in question 1:
One Gloucestershire Medicines Optimisation Board (OGMOB)
Please confirm if this is correct. If not correct, please list the relevant committees with the corresponding formulary.

3) Does the organisation have representation on the committees listed in question 2?

4) Are any of the above formularies listed in question 1 dominant when making prescribing decisions or does this depend on therapy area? Please say which is the dominant formulary of the organisation.

5) If you use a PDF formulary, have you considered moving it to an online platform like Netformulary, and if yes, when are you planning to do so?

6) Request for Re-use
If your organisation does hold this information and is able to share it, then I would like to submit the following request for re-using the information:

We (IQVIA) request permission to re-use the information provided as part of independent analyses commissioned by our clients. The contents of the reports will not be made available publicly but may be used by other IQVIA Group entities and service suppliers. The information in the reports will be presented in a factual manner with all publication details staying true to the publisher.

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Clinical Systems Information

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the FOI Act 2000.

Please provide information regarding the following 9 system contracts and their accompanying consulting support contracts:

1. Adult (working age) services
2. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
3. Child Health System
4. Clinical noting
5. Eating disorders
6. EPR
7. Inpatient e-prescribing
8. Older Adults
9. Patients Note Tracking

Please enter ‘No System Installed’ or ‘No Department’ under supplier name if your trust does not use the system or have the department:

a) System type –
b) Supplier name –
c) System name –
d) Date installed –
e) Contract expiration –
f) Is this contract annually renewed? – Yes/No
g) Do you currently have plans to replace this system? – Yes/No
h) Procurement framework –
i) Other systems it integrates with? –
j) Total value of contract (£) –
k) Notes (e.g. we are currently out to tender) –

Can you please provide your trust’s IT spend for the following financial year:
FY 2023-24:

Please include in your IT spend calculation the cost of your IT staff, Software, Services, Hardware, Communication equipment and Other IT spend for the requested financial year.
Please provide your answer in the above format for each system.

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Wheelchair Services: Open Caseloads and Waiting Times

As you will be aware, the recently released Wheelchair Alliance report has highlighted the postcode lottery experienced by wheelchair users, and the many long waits. I am interested in the underlying data.

Please provide the following information separately for each of the wheelchair services in your area. This data is ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ information relating to each referral and should be easily extracted from the relevant Case Management System, Electronic Patient Record, or similar. Please feel free to provide the data in alternative formats, e.g. an Excel spreadsheet, if appropriate.

1a) How many open referrals does the service have for ADULTS?
1b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?
1c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?
1d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?
1e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?
1f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?
1g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?
1h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?
1i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

2a) How many open referrals does the service have for CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE?
2b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?
2c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?
2d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?
2e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?
2f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?
2g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?
2h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?
2i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

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Management of Agency Staffing Supply Chains

For ease, and for minimal admin effort at your end, I have attached a basic template in excel format – to be populated with your response to the 6 questions (repeated per agency staff group – one per worksheet), and have kept the questions basic and the reporting time frame short. I hope this is helpful.

Please return the information in the requested format – see instructions and clarifications in the attached MS Excel file. Please do not return the data in PDF formal unless also attaching the completed Excel file along with it.

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Administering of Injections

I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the administration of injections to patients without their consent within the Trust.

Specifically, I request the following information for the period 1 January 2020 – 15 March 2025:
1. The total number of times patients were administered injections without their consent and the date of any such cases.
2. A breakdown of the medications administered (e.g., antipsychotics, sedatives) in these cases.
3. The legal authority under which these injections were administered.
4. The number of incidents where rapid tranquilization was used and the date of any such cases.
5. Any policy documents or guidelines used by the Trust regarding the administration of injections without consent.

If any part of this request exceeds the cost limit under the FOI Act, I would appreciate advice on how I may refine my request to stay within the limit.

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Sick Days Taken by Nurses

This is an information request relating to sick days taken by nurses

Please include the following information for the following financial years: 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25:

– Total number of days lost due to sick leave taken by NHS Nurses
– The total number of NHS nurses who took sick leave
– Total number of days lost to Mental Health issues taken by NHS nurses
– The total number of nurses who required sickness absence on mental health grounds
– The number of NHS nurses taking more than seven days of absence without a sick note
– The total number of days lost in excess of the seven days.

For example, if an individual has taken off 10 days without a sick note, then this would be 3 days in excess of the seven days

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Agency Spend & Service Leads for Mental Health Roles

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I would like to request the following information regarding agency spend and hiring responsibility within your organisation:

1. The total agency spend for the financial year 2023-2024 broken by Agencies on the following roles:
o Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP)
o Social Worker
o CAMHS Practitioner
o Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT)
o Mental Health Practitioner
o Psychologist
o Psychotherapist

2. The total agency spend from April 2024 to the present date broken by Agencies on the same roles listed above.

3. The name and job title of the appointed Service Lead or responsible hiring manager for each of the above staff groups. If direct names cannot be disclosed, please provide the relevant job titles and departments responsible for recruitment in these areas.

If possible, please provide a breakdown of spend per role. If this information is held in a different format or is only available in part, please provide any relevant data that you do hold.

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Use of Processed Meats Containing Nitrates or Nitrites in Meals

I am writing to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I would like to request the following information regarding the use of processed meats containing nitrates or nitrites in meals provided by your authority.

1. Does your organisation procure or serve processed meat (such as bacon, ham, sausages, or other cured meats) that contain nitrates or nitrites as preservatives?

2. If so, please provide details of the types of processed meat served and any guidance or policies in place regarding their procurement.

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