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The Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust Publication Scheme
is in three parts, as follows:
- Part One: Introduction
- Part Two: The Classes of Information
that we hold
- Part Three: Bodies which monitor/inspect
our performance. Index to the Publication Scheme, and useful
Resources
Part One: Introduction
What a Publication Scheme is
This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information
routinely published by Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust. It is
a description of the information about our Trust, which we make
publicly available. We shall review the Scheme at regular intervals
and monitor how it is operating.
It is important to us that this Scheme meets your needs and we
have designed it to be a route map so that you can find information
about Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust easily. Under Section
19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (there is a link to
the Act in Part Three below), the Somerset
Coast Primary Care Trust has a legal duty to adopt and maintain
a Publication Scheme for the publication of Somerset Coast Primary
Care Trust information. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater
openness by public authorities (of which Somerset Coast Primary
Care Trust is one).
The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients
to protection of their patient confidentiality in accordance with
Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, the Data Protection
Act and at common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient
confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our
part. To help with this, we have appointed someone who is called
a Caldicott Guardian, and who has responsibility to ensure the
protection of patient confidentiality throughout the Trust in
accordance with your legal rights. In Somerset Coast Primary Care
Trust, our Caldicott Guardian is:
Dr Alan Nelson
Clinical Governance Lead
Harley House Surgery
2 Irnham Road
Minehead
TA24 5DL
Tel: 01643 703441
Email: alan.nelson@harleyhouse.nhs.uk
Information Management
Information falling into the Classes will be retained in line
with the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust’s retention and disposal
schedules, which comply with circular HSC1999/53 and Public Record
Office Guidance. Information not required for the business purposes
of the Trust is stored at the Trust or at a place of deposit approved
by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of holding public records.
Feedback
We welcome suggestions about how this Publication Scheme and
the publications themselves might be improved. The responsibility
for producing and maintaining the Publication Scheme lies with
the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs. Any questions,
comments or complaints about this Scheme should be sent in writing
to:
David Slack
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust
Trust Headquarters
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432043
Email: david.slack@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
If you have a complaint about the operation of the Publication
Scheme, or how the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust has dealt
with your request for information from the Scheme, please write
to:
Jane O'Sullivan
Quality Improvement Manager
Somerset Coast PCT
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432012
Fax: 01278 432098 (Confidential)
Email: Jane.O'Sullivan@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
Rights of Access to Information
At the present time, in addition to accessing the information
identified in this Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request
information about Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust under the
NHS Openness Code 1995. A link to this is available in Part 3
of the Scheme and hard copies are available free of charge from
the Department of Health:
The Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NS
Tel: 0207 210 4850
Email: dhmail@doh.gsi.gov.uk
Sometimes, some or all of the information cannot be provided
and we will explain the reasons why not when this happens.
The Freedom of Information Act recognises that as a member of
the public, you have the right to know how public services such
as the NHS are organised and run, how much they cost and how you
can make complaints if you need to. You have the right to know
which services are being provided, the targets that are being
set, the standards of services that are expected and the results
achieved.
From January 1st 2005, it will also oblige the Somerset
Coast Primary Care Trust to respond to requests about the information
which it holds and is recorded in any form and it will create
a right of access to that information. These rights are subject
to some exemptions, which the Trust has to take into account before
deciding what information can be released. The Publication Scheme
will help you to find all the information that the Trust publishes.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to
access your clinical records or any other personal information
held about you and you can contact in the first instance:
David Slack
Director of Finance
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
TA6 4RN
Tel 01278 432043
Email: david.slack@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
New Environmental Information Regulations may be introduced as
early as 2003. These will enable similar access to environmental
information as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Part Two
The Classes of Information
The information is grouped into broad categories as follows:
We will state how you can obtain the information outlined within
each Class. This will either be via the web site or as a hard
copy or other media as stated within each Class. Single copies
of the publications are all free unless otherwise indicated within
each Class. Where information is provided at a cost the charges
will be calculated as set out in Class 16.
The Trust’s commitment to publish information excludes any information
which can legitimately be withheld under the exemptions set out
in the NHS Openness Code or the Freedom of Information Act. Where
individual classes are subject to exemptions, the main reasons
are, for example: the protection of commercial interests and personal
information under the Data Protection Act 1998. This applies to
most Classes within the Publication Scheme.
The Publication Scheme will be available in both hard copy and
on our web site.
1. The NHS and How We Fit
Nationally
The National Health Service is a very large part of the public
sector. There are over 600 Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) - a full
list can be found on the web at www.nhs.uk.
The strategic direction of the PCT is guided by the Department
of Health. Key policy documents issued by the Department include
the following which can be found on the web or by writing to the
Department at Richmond House, 79 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS:
Locally
The PCT is also part of a network of local NHS bodies, which
include the following, details for most of which, can be found
on the web at www.somerset.nhs.uk
Details of the GP and Dental practices in Somerset Coast, and
local opticians and pharmacists, are referred to in class
7.
The chart overleaf shows the relationships between the PCT, the
Department of Health and these organisations:
The PCT has a statutory responsibility to plan services for the
people it serves. In order to do this effectively and to ensure
that our plans are transparent and available to all our staff
as well as the public, we produce a series of documents on an
annual basis. These documents can be divided into two main areas:
- planning documents that demonstrate how we will achieve the
Government's targets and how we will develop our services within
the strategies outlined by the Department of Health, and
- performance reports that demonstrate the risks associated
with achieving these strategies and how we are performing as
a Trust.
Underpinning all of these is the PCT Strategy, which describes
how the PCT will achieve its targets and improve the health of
the population it serves. This is based on the Local Delivery
Plan, which is the PCT’s business plan, The current version
covers 2003 – 2006. The plan is reviewed annually. As part of
this we include work that is underway and planned over the coming
twelve months and demonstrate the effect these plans will have
on internal and external business within the organisation.
In addition we produce Estate
Strategies, Governance
Strategy and Governance
Plan, a Patient
& Public Involvement Strategy and a variety of other temporary
and long-term plans.
2. Who We Are
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust (PCT) was established in April
2001 and responsibilities include the monitoring of primary healthcare,
clinical governance, and the health needs of the area. The PCT
is committed to the improvement of health across the Somerset
Coast Area. More information about our services appears in
class 6.
Partnerships with other NHS
The health community of Somerset is divided into four PCT areas
of similar geographic and demographic size. The PCTs have responsibility
for the provision of community services, for the development of
working arrangements with primary care services and for the commissioning
of secondary care and specialist services. The commissioning of
secondary care and specialist services is undertaken by the four
PCTs on a shared basis so that for each provider one of the four
PCTs assumes the lead responsibility on behalf of the whole of
Somerset. Details of the current lead responsibilities are available
on the PCT website.
Within the geographical boundary of Somerset Coast, the majority
of secondary care is provided by the Taunton
& Somerset NHS Trust and Weston
Area Health NHS Trust. Mental health and learning disability
services are provided by Somerset
Partnership NHS & Social Care Trust. The accountability
for health services within Somerset rests with the individual
organisations and ultimately, the Dorset
& Somerset Strategic Health Authority, which reports directly
to the Department
of Health. For certain aspects of planning and performance
management, however, the PCTs themselves are directly accountable
to the Department
of Health.
The PCT works closely with the twenty-two GP practices in our
area. Details of these can be found in Class 7.
A number of GPs and other health professionals serve on our
Professional
Executive Committee, details of which can be found later
in this class.
Partnerships with Organisations Outside the NHS
The PCT is committed to working in partnership with a number
of non-NHS organisations, to ensure delivery of local services
and their development in accordance with national guidance and
local needs. We are active members of the Local Strategic Partnerships
(LSPs) in both Sedgemoor and West Somerset. The PCT has close
working relationships with both District Councils.
We are actively integrating health and social care services
within Somerset and work closely with the County Council on
many areas. The Joint Commissioning Board has been established to
formally commission mental health services through the Somerset
Partnership NHS and Social Care Trust; Community Equipment Services,
Learning Disability Services and Drug Abuse Services through
pooled budgets managed by Somerset County Council.
Organisation of the PCT
The PCT Board oversees the work of the organisation. The members
of the Board include 6 lay people (non-executive directors) and
6 executive directors, who have voting rights and legal responsibility
for overseeing the work of the PCT. The organisation structure
is shown below:
Board
The full membership of the Board is shown below:
There are 6 non-executive directors; these are lay people who
live in the local community. In addition, when the Patient and
Public Involvement Forums are fully operational, one of its members
will be elected to sit on the PCT Board. The Patient and Public
Involvement Forums are described in more detail in class
10.
Board members can be contacted via:
Katherine Bartley
Corporate PA
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432070
Email: kbartley@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
The Board meets publicly monthly at different venues across the
area on a Tuesday afternoon. Details of the meetings can be found
on the PCT website.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the public sessions
of Board meetings and public participation is invited at the beginning
of the meeting. All approved minutes of Board meetings are publicly
available via the website or by contacting the Director of Finance
and Corporate Affairs.
The PCT is able to provide access to, or copies of our:
The Board delegates some of its functions and responsibilities
to committees, including the Professional Executive Committee.
The Scheme of Delegation describes how the Board discharges its
responsibilities. These other committees include:
All of these committees are chaired by a non-executive director,
(lay person) and report to the Board on a regular basis.
In addition non-executive directors champion particular areas
of work within the Primary Care Trust (e.g. Older People Services,
Freedom of Information); details of these responsibilities are
available on the PCT website.
Professional
Executive Committee (PEC)
The PCT has a Professional Executive Committee, which meets every
month usually on a Thursday afternoon. The PEC gives clinical
direction to the PCT and deals with service developments. Its
membership includes health care professionals, executive directors
and a Social Services representative.
Some of the PEC members and other clinicians act as clinical
leads for various high priority areas of activity within the PCT.
Details of these appointments and responsibilities are available
from the PCT website.
Directors Group
The Directors Group, which meets weekly, to resolve day-to-day
and urgent operational and management issues:
3. Financial and Funding Information
How we manage our financial resources
The PCT receives funds directly from the Department of Health.
The Trust then works with other local organisations to fund services
across Dorset and Somerset. Details of the allocation and
how the funds are pooled locally can be obtained by contacting
the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Each year the Trust Board agrees a budget for the work
of the Trust. The Board then monitors spending against the budget
by means of monthly reports. At the end of the financial year,
which runs from 1 April to 31 March, a set of Annual
Accounts, which include the External
Auditor's independent opinion, are produced. These are presented
to the Board in July each year. All of these documents can found
in the monthly Board papers (see class 4)
or be obtained from the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
For the financial year 2002/2003, the Somerset Coast Primary
Care Trust was allocated £113.6 million of revenue funding. The
majority of these monies were used to commission services from
NHS Trust, fund the prescribing and other costs of primary care
and provide clinical services through the PCTs own hospitals and
community staff.
The Director of Finance & Corporate Affairs, David Slack,
has corporate responsibility for the oversight of the PCT’s finances.
The Board and the Professional Executive Committee receive regular
updates on the financial position of the organisation and the
PEC recommends priorities to the Board which makes decisions in
regard to the allocation of these resources. It is a key target,
set by the Department of Health, for the PCT to achieve financial
balance by the end of each financial year.
The PCT produces a Performance and Finance Report for each
PCT Board meeting. The PCT has in place and adheres to Standing
Orders, including Standing Financial Instructions and a
Scheme
of Delegation, which have been approved by the Board. These
form the governance framework for the organisation and are set
by the Department of Health. They include, for example, arrangements
for Board meetings, the Code of Conduct for managers and the
tendering procedure. These documents are available from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Other sources of funds
The Trust has a number of charitable funds made up of money donated
by patients and members of the public. The funds are currently
held on behalf of the PCT by Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust
whose Board fulfill the role of corporate Trustee (Registered
Charity Number 1059922). Details of current balances and the headings
under which charitable funds are spent may be obtained by contacting
the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs. Note: Personal
confidential information (e.g. relating to the source of charitable
contributions or individuals for whose benefit they are spent)
will be withheld.
The PCT also receives grants from other Charities - particularly
the League of Friends of the four community hospitals who generously
support the work at these locations.
Purchase of equipment and supplies
The NHS community in Somerset has a shared Supplies service,
which follows the guidance established by the NHS Purchasing and
Supply Agency (PASA) whose website can be found at www.pasa.doh.gov.uk.
The PASA guidance sets out the standard terms and conditions that
NHS organisations should follow in regard to purchasing equipment
and supplies. In the NHS, we refer to this as procurement. The
contact for this is:
Liane Jennings
Community Procurement Manager
Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust
Musgrove Park
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Tel: 01823 343816
Email: ljennings@tstrust.nhs.uk
The PCT will advertise tenders for goods or services worth over
£100,410 through the Official Journal of the European Communities
(OJEC) procedures. The website for OJEC is www.ojec.com.
Background information relating to the tenders sought and awarded
by the PCT will be included in this publication scheme. Items
not included will be those where a commercial issue or issue of
confidentiality is involved.
Commissioning services
The PCT is responsible for determining the need for hospital
and community based services, planning their delivery and negotiating
with local providers and funding the purchase of appropriate levels
of care. This includes outpatients, diagnostic investigations,
inpatient and day case treatment, accident and emergency services,
including ambulance and emergency admissions to hospital, community
hospital services and domiciliary care. The provision of these
services for local residents is monitored throughout the year
to ensure value for money and compliance with NHS Plan access
targets and local quality criteria.
The commissioning of secondary care and specialist services is
undertaken by the four Somerset PCTs on a shared basis, so that
for each provider one of the four PCTs assumes the lead responsibility
on behalf of the whole of Somerset. Details of the current lead
responsibilities are available on the
PCT website.
The PCT spent £ 70 million per annum (financial year April 2002
to end March 2003) on purchasing these services. The principal
service agreements were as follows:
- Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust £36m
- Somerset Partnership £10m
- Weston Area Health Trust £7m
- Westcountry Ambulance £3m
The Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs has corporate responsibility
to oversee this expenditure.
Financial accountancy
Financial accountancy services, including payment of invoices,
cash management, maintenance of ledgers and production of trial
balances are provided to the PCT by Shared Financial Services
hosted by Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust.
4. Corporate Information
The Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust routinely publishes
a large amount of information. All organisations will publish
Annual Reports, which include information on our
Annual Accounts. This PCT’s first Annual Report was published
in September 2002 and is available via the
PCT website or from the Director of Finance and Corporate
Affairs.
Documents that we routinely publish and are publicly available
now, include:
- Annual Report
- Business
Plan 2005/2006 - the PCT’s aims and objectives
for service delivery, subject to annual review
- Board papers - these are the agendas, minutes and supporting
papers
- (including finance reports) for the
Board. Papers are available three working days before the
date of the meeting and the agenda is displayed in the Reception
at Bridgwater Community Hospital.
- Professional Executive Committee (PEC) - agendas,
supporting papers and minutes are available on request
- Annual
Accountability Agreement - agreed with the Strategic Health
Authority each year and setting out the key objectives and
priorities;
- Organisational policies and strategies -
class 9 details arrangements for approving the PCT’s principal
policies. Also available are the PCT’s strategies on, for
example, Health & Safety, Communication and Risk Management;
- Corporate communications - the PCT staff newsletter
and governance newsletters, are available to the public,
as are press
releases and media briefing notes;
- The Patient Prospectus
- this is your guide to health services in Somerset Coast.
These leaflets are distributed annually during September/October
to homes in the area and are available in GP surgeries, hospitals
and Reception at Bridgwater Community hospital;
- Director
of Public Health Annual Report– each year the Director
of Public Health publishes a report highlighting health issues
across our PCT area.
- Clinical
Governance Strategy and Clinical
Governance Report- these set out our plans and achievements
in improving the quality of care provided
If you do not have access to the internet, or for documents that
are not available on the internet, please contact the Director
of Finance and Corporate Affairs, whose details appear in
part one.
5. Aims, Targets and Achievements
Aims
The aims of the Primary Care Trust are set out in a variety
of documents. The Strategic
Context sets the longer term direction of the PCT and is
supported by the Business
Plan that focuses on the next
three years and the Annual
Accountability Agreement agreed with the Strategic Health
Authority each year.
The PCT also agrees a Governance
Development Plan each year which sets targets for maintaining
and improving the quality of our services. In future years this
will be supported by the Quality
and Outcomes Framework within the new GP contract.
Performance Monitoring
The PCT monitors its performance against its targets through
regular Performance
and Finance Reports which are presented to the Board and
so are included within the Board papers (see
class 4). It is also subject to formal review by the Strategic
Health Authority and the results of the Annual Review
are reported to the Board.
The Annual
Report summarises the performance for the year and includes
within it the summary financial statements. This is formally
presented at the PCTs Annual General Meeting, which is held
in September each year.
Each year the Trust assesses and scores itself against the National
Controls Assurance Standards. Where appropriate an action plan
is drawn up. A report on the self-assessments is produced by the
Trust’s Internal Auditors. The assessments are presented to the
Board and so can be found in the Board papers (see
class 4).
An Annual Governance Report is produced each year summarising
the progress made against the targets in the Governance Plan.
Who monitors the PCT?
The PCT is monitored and scrutinised by a number of external
bodies, covering different aspects of its performance, such as
professional conduct, services and adverse events. A full list
of these bodies is attached at Appendix
2.
6. Our Services
PCT Commissioned Services
Primary Care - Details are in class 7
Secondary Care
Service agreements are in place with many providers across the
country to ensure access to services for the local population.
The main local providers are:
- Taunton & Somerset NHS
Trust - provides services at Musgrove Park, Taunton that
include inpatients, daycases, outpatients, A & E, diagnostic
tests. All the main specialities are provided including medical,
surgical and maternity services.
- Weston
Area Health NHS Trust - provides services at Weston Hospital
including inpatients, daycases, outpatients, A & E and diagnostic
tests. Many of the main specialities are provided including
medical, surgical and maternity services.
- Somerset Partnership NHS
and Social Care Trust - provides services from a variety
of Community based units and settings across the PCT that includes
inpatients, outpatients and day care.
- West Country
Ambulance Services NHS Trust - provides both emergency and
routine patient transport services across Somerset Coast.
PCT Clinical Services
The PCT’s directly provided Primary and Community Care Services
comprise:
Community Hospitals
There are four Community Hospitals situated at Bridgwater,
Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead and Williton.
Bridgwater has 50 beds plus 8 maternity beds in the Mary Stanley
Wing (managed by Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust), Burnham
has 23 beds all of which are GP led. Minehead has 27 ward beds
and 6 surgical daycase beds and Williton 45 beds. Bridgwater,
Minehead and Williton Hospitals provide both GP and Consultant-led
Inpatient care and Outpatient Services (Consultant, GP and Nurse-led).
The focus of inpatient care is predominantly Care of the Elderly
with some other specialist beds including Palliative Care, Trauma
and Orthopaedics.
Three of the four hospitals have Minor Injury Units with Minehead
having a 24-hour integrated service (with input from GPs, the
Ambulance Service and Nursing staff). Bridgwater has a medically
led unit open between the hours of 09.00-17.00 hrs and Burnham-on-Sea
has a small Nurse-led unit open between the hours of 08.00-22.00
hrs. Outpatient provision also varies with the three larger units
having a dedicated Outpatient Department and with both Minehead
and Bridgwater having their own X-ray facilities provided by Taunton
& Somerset NHS Trust.
Community Nursing
Community Nursing comprises District Nursing, Health Visiting
and a small School Nursing Team. The service is organised in three
areas - North Sedgemoor, South Sedgemoor and West Somerset. An
integrated Nursing Team has been developed in Williton where PCT
staff are seconded to the PMS Practice. An evening and a night
service operate across the whole PCT and this service is complemented
by the Marie Curie Nursing Service.
Rehabilitation
The Rehabilitation Service (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy
and some Nursing input) has recently been reconfigured into two
teams; both providing a single point of entry. This service is
supported by a generic Rehabilitation Assistant and works across
the Community Hospital and Community Interface. In addition there
is a "stand alone" Musculo Skeletal Physiotherapy service
accepting primary and secondary care referrals.
Speech and Language Therapy
The PCT provides Speech and Language Therapy for all client groups
both adult and children, with the exception of Adult Learning
Disability, across Somerset Coast, Taunton Deane and part of South
Somerset and also to Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. The service
is closely linked to the local Education Authority and is an integral
part of three Sure Start projects and one Education Achievement
Zone.
Other Primary Care Services
The PCT runs its own Musculo Skeletal Interface Clinics and has
its own Dermatology and Young Peoples Drop-in Service.
Child Protection
The PCT has a named Nurse Lynda Keedwell and is currently formalising
an arrangement for the named Doctor. Both these individuals attend
the Area Child Protection Committee and a PCT-wide Child Protection
Forum has recently been set up with the aim of ensuring that County
and Region wide policies and protocols and guidelines are implemented
across the PCT. The Nurse Consultant for Child Protection (Somerset)
is part of the forum and together with the named Nurse works with
the PCT to ensure an integrated approach is taken.
Further information can be obtained about our services from:
Judith Brown
Director of Clinical Services
Bridgwater Community Hospital
Salmon Parade
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 5AH
Tel: 01278 436771
Email: judith.brown@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
7. The Primary Care Trust and Independent Practitioners
GP practices, dental practices, opticians and pharmacies are
independent practitioners, which means that they are not directly
employed by the PCT but enter into contracts with the PCT to provide
services. A summary of the independent practitioners for which
the Trust is the relevant PCT are on the
website or by contacting the Primary Care Service Development
Manager. The full medical and other lists can be obtained from:
Patient and Practitioner Services
c/o Taunton Deane PCT
Wellsprings Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 7PQ
Tel: 01823 333491
The policies for adding and removing practitioners from the lists
and also for the allocation of patients to doctor’s lists can
also be obtained from Patient and Practitioner Services. The policies
for managing poor performance by doctors and other practitioners
can be requested from the Director
of Finance and Corporate Affairs. The number of patients on
doctor’s lists at the last point measured (usually quarterly)
can be obtained from the Director
of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The Terms of Service under which GPs provide General Medical
Services can be obtained from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs, as can details
of Personal Medical or Personal Dental Services Agreements (these
are a local agreements under which for GPs and dentists provide
and are paid for services).
The General Medical Services and Prescribing Budgets allocated
by the PCT to General Practitioners are available on request from
the Director of Finance and Corporate
Affairs.
Dentists can choose to provide treatment to patients either privately
or under NHS arrangements and can provide both services within
the same practice.
Dental services are provided within normal working hours, plus
advice and treatment, if necessary, outside working hours, up
to 10.00pm. Patients encountering difficulty accessing Dental
Services may also wish to phone the dental help line 0845 7697691.
Community pharmacists provide a service that covers GP surgery
opening hours. Outside of those hours and at weekends there are
rotas in place, so that the public are able to access a pharmacy
dispensing service each day. It is the PCT’s responsibility to
ensure that a pharmacy dispensing service is available within
normal working hours and contracted to cover emergencies outside
those times.
NHS Direct can provide help with emergencies out of hours,
tel: 0845 46 47.
Optometrists provide NHS sight tests for those patients who are
eligible. These services are available during normal working hours.
8. Reports and Independent Enquiries
Audit
The PCT appoints Internal Auditors to review its systems and
ensure that risks are properly managed. They are:
Bentley Jennison
Howard House
Queens Avenue
Clifton
Bristol
BS8 1QT
Tel: 0117 925 9255
Web: www.bentley-jennison.co.uk
The Audit Commission appoint External Auditors in order to provide
independent assurance to Parliament on the exercise of the PCT's
functions. They are:
RSM Robson Rhodes
10 Queen Square
Bristol
BS1 4NT
Tel: 0117 926 0066
Web: www.rsmi.co.uk
Both sets of auditors produce audit reports which can
be obtained from the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The External Auditors also present an Annual Management Letter
to the Board which is available as part of the Board papers
(see class 4) or by contacting the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Inspections
The Trust may be scrutinised or inspected by a range of external
bodies including:
- Commission for Health Improvement (to be Commission for Health
Improvement and Audit),
- Patient Environment Action Team,
- Improving Working Lives Project
- Action for Somerset's Health (Somerset County Council Overview
and Scrutiny Committee for Health)
- Somerset Community Health Council or the local Patient's Forum
(when established)
There is a more comprehensive list in part 3 (Appendix
2).
Some reports of inspections or assessments may be published on
the website. Reports can also be obtained by contacting
the Director of Finance and Corporate
Affairs.
9. Policies and Procedures
The PCT has established a Policy & Documentation Group, the
Terms of Reference for which are as follows:
Group Membership:
- Chair of Professional Executive Committee
- Director of Clinical Services
- Director of Human Resources
- Governance Manager
- Professional Head of Nursing
- Staff Representative
- One Allied Health Professional Lead
- Practice Manager Representative
Terms of Reference
The role of the group is to establish a unified procedure for
the writing, review and ratification of both policies and PCT
wide documentation. The group will fulfill a PCT wide function
to standardise such items and their remit will include:
- Identifying policy requirements.
- Allocating lead roles with respect to writing or review of
individual policies.
- Receiving draft or reviewed documents and ensuring all relevant
parties/committees have been involved in their development/review.
- Ensuring draft policies and documentation are ratified by
the appropriate committees e.g. the Board, Executive Committee,
JMSC etc.
- Identifying sign-off arrangements for each policy.
- Establishing a robust system for the dissemination of policies
and documentation.
- Ensuring the provision of policy briefing sessions as appropriate.
- Establishing a rolling review programme of existing policies
and documentation.
- Receiving audit of policy implementation and co-ordinating
action as necessary.
- Ensuring all national and local recommendations with regards
to policies and documentation are followed.
- Ensuring all policies and documentation are presented in "corporate
style".
- To establish a policy for the development of service user
and staff information
- To receive and ratify draft service user and staff information
- To ensure that all service user information is in line with
the Race, Equality and other national schemes.
Reporting Mechanisms
The Policy & Documentation Group will report to the Directors
Group. The exact path taken for each item will be agreed with
the Directors.
The Group will meet on a monthly basis in the first instance
with frequency reducing to quarterly once the initial set up is
complete.
Policies are managed in four discrete areas - Human Resources,
Health & Safety, Corporate and Clinical. In each area
the policy requirements are identified and a rolling programme
of development, implementation and updating is currently being
established. Existing policies are available in all these areas,
details of which can be obtained from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
10. Public Involvement and Consultation
Commitment to Patient and Public Involvement
Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust is committed to the NHS Plan
by
- "shaping its services around the needs and preferences
of individual patients, their families and their carers."
- "responding to different needs of different populations"
- "working together with all agencies to ensure a seamless
service for patients and to respect confidentiality of individual
patients and provide open access to information about services,
treatment and performance."
Our Statutory Duty
We have a statutory duty to involve service users, carers and
the public in the work of the organisation. As stated in
class 5, Our Services. We will use this Publication Scheme
to inform the public of any proposed service changes or variations
in accordance with our duties under section 11 of the Health &
Social Care Act 2001. This Act can be found at www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2001/20010015.htm.
Public Consultation
We have recently been developing a Patient
and Public Involvement Strategy which is available on the
website or by contacting the Patient
Advice and Liaison Officer.
Where we have carried out consultation exercises, for example
that on Modernising Mental Health Services for Older People, consultation
documents will be available in public libraries, on the website
or by contacting the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The results of consultations, including comments received, and
the final shape of proposals will also be made available, for
example by presentation to the Trust Board.
Note: Where respondents to consultations have asked that their
comments be kept confidential this information will be withheld.
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
The PCT has established a Patient Advice & Liaison Service
(PALS) to provide information, advice and support to patients.
The service can help you find your way through the system or
listen to suggestions or comments about services and make recommendations
to the PCT for improvements. The PALS Officer can be contacted
at:
Jane O'Sullivan
PALS
Somerset Coast PCT
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432013
Fax: 01278 432098
Email: Jane.O'Sullivan@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
Getting Involved
Please contact the PALS Manager if you want to get involved in
the development of services, for example by:
- reporting an example of good practice, or to highlight where
things could have been done better;
- taking part in the user surveys that will be conducted from
time to time;
- becoming a volunteer at a local hospital.
Working with other organisations
We work in partnership with local communities, alongside our
colleagues in the NHS, local authorities and other organisations
in:
To find out more about patient and public involvement in the
NHS, visit the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/involvingpatients.
11. Regular Publications and Information for
the Public
This class includes guidance and information leaflets produced
for the public.
The Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust publishes a number of leaflets,
reports and plans providing information about the PCT and how
to access services. The PCT also publishes a staff newsletter.
These publications are available on the website (where the title
is underlined) or from the Director
of Finance and Corporate Affairs, whose details are shown
in part one.
The publications include:
Guides to services
- Your
guide to the NHS (formerly the Patient’s Prospectus)
- Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) leaflet
- ‘How to make a complaint’ leaflet
Reports
Information for staff
- Staff newsletter
- Governance newsletter
12. Complaints Procedures
Learning from Complaints
We aim to provide a high standard of care, but sometimes things
go wrong and people wish to complain. It is useful for the PCT
to have people’s views, so that they can be taken into account
in planning for the future and to improve services for the benefit
of the whole community. The PCT welcomes complaints, compliments,
comments and suggestions about the way in which we undertake our
work.
It is important for the Trust to monitor the level of complaints
and to learn from them. The Board receives a complaints report
each quarter and an annual report on complaints is also produced.
Both are included with the Board papers (see class
4) or can be obtained from the Complaints Manager.
Patient confidentiality is observed in accordance with the Data
Protection Act. The PCT does not publish details of individual
complaints.
The Trust has a Complaints Policy and Procedure and Patient
Complaints information Leaflet which explains the procedure
for making a complaint. This follows the processes prescribed
by the NHS Complaints Procedure. There are also Staff
Guidance in Complaints. The policy and leaflets are available
on the website or from the Complaints Manager (see below).
Complaints Manager
If you wish to make a complaint about the services provided by
this PCT, please contact:
Jane O'Sullivan
Quality Improvement Manager
Somerset Coast PCT
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432012
Fax: 01278 432098 (Confidential)
Email: Jane.O'Sullivan@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
13. Human Resources
The Trust’s Director of Human Resources is Ms Jo Perry who can
be contacted at Trust Headquarters.
The Trust has a range of Human Resources policies in place, for
example and including:
These are available on the website or by contacting the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Procedures used by the Human Resources Department and the Payroll
Department are available by contacting the Personnel Manager or
the Paymaster Services Manager respectively at:
Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust
Musgrove Park
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Tel: 01823 333444
The general terms and conditions of employment and details of
current vacancies open to external applicants are available by
contacting the Recruitment Service at Taunton & Somerset NHS
Trust (as above).
All staff joining the Trust receive an induction pack
and there is also a staff handbook. Copies of the current
editions of both are on the website or available by contacting
the Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The Trust Board receive quarterly Human Resources Reports which
include information on workforce description. These reports are
included in the Board papers (see class 4)
or available on request by contacting the Director of Finance
and Corporate Affairs.
Somerset Coast PCT is involved in the national Improving Working
Lives project and has a Quality of Working Life Strategy which
is available on the website or by contacting the Director of Finance
and Corporate Affairs. There is a Quality of Working Life Group
which oversees development and Agendas, Papers and Minutes can
also be requested.
Management regularly meets with representatives of staff, including
the trade unions and professional bodies, to discuss matters of
common interest. Agendas, Papers and Minutes of the Joint Management
Staff Committee can be requested from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
The PCT is a pilot site for the Changing Workforce programme,
which examines ways of improving patient care by changing the
roles of staff. Details can be obtained from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Training is vital to effective patient care and a Training Education
and Development Strategy is in preparation. Further details can
be obtained from the Director of
Finance and Corporate Affairs.
There is a monthly Newsletter for staff and also a Briefing
which is issued after every Board meeting. Copies are available
by contacting the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs respectively.
14. Communications With the Press and Media
Releases
Somerset Coast PCT receives communication services from Dorset
and Somerset PCT Specialist Communications (Providing press
and communications support to nine primary care trusts across
Dorset and Somerset; the Somerset Partnership NHS and Social Care
Trust and the Dorset and Somerset Health Protection Unit.)
Tel: (office) 01460 238626
Fax: (office) 01460 238699
Mobiles: 0794 118 2175 or 07976 370672 (24 hour)
Press releases are available on the
website or by contacting Somerset NHS Communications.
The Trust has a website which can be accessed via www.somersetcoastpct.nhs.uk.
It is also part of a larger Somerset Health and Social Care
Website, the address of which is
http://www.somerset-health.org.uk.
15. Environmental Information
We own the following properties:
At present we lease the following premises:
- Peter Holmes Annexe adjacent to Burnham Hospital
- Offices at Pearl House, Bridgwater
Further details and details of the uses enjoyed by and licences
relating to our property, can be obtained from the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
GP practices in Somerset Coast are usually owned by the GPs themselves.
Estates Management and Health and Safety services are provided
to Somerset Coast PCT by Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust:
Neil Hughes
Estates Manager
Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust
Musgrove Park
Taunton
TA1 5DA
Tel: 01823 333444
Copies of the minutes of the Health and Safety Committee can
be requested from the Director of
Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Other information required to be published under the Environmental
Information Regulations 1992 or any replacement legislation will
also be available by contacting the
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
16. This Publication Scheme
In this class we will publish any changes we make to this Publication
Scheme, the criteria on which our information management policies
are made and a referral point for all enquires regarding information
management generally in the Trust. We will also publish any proposed
changes or additions to publications already available.
Cost of Information
For the most part, we will charge you only for hard copies, copying
onto media (e.g. CD ROM), or multiple copies. Some information
is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges
will vary according to how information is made available. Charges
are as follows:
a) Via the Trust’s Web Site - Free of charge, although any
charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing
costs would have to be met by the individual.
For those without Internet access, a single print-out as on
the website would be available by post from Director of Finance
and Corporate Affairs or by personal application at Trust Headquarters:
David Slack
Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs
Somerset Coast PCT
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432043
Email: David.slack@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
However, requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies
of documents which are no longer accessible or available on
the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy,
postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that
will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts
of other organisation’s websites.
b) Leaflets and brochures - Free of charge for leaflets or
booklets on, for example, services we offer to the public. A
list is available from:
PALS
Somerset Coast PCT
Mallard Court
Express Park
Bridgwater
Somerset
TA6 4N
Tel: 01278 432013
Fax: 01278 432099
Email: Jane.O'Sullivan@somcoastpct.nhs.uk
OR
Email: pals@somerset.nhs.uk
c) "Glossy" or other bound paper copies, or in some
cases a CD ROM, video or other mediums, are subject to a charge.
Please contact the Director of Finance
and Corporate Affairs for further information.
d) e-mail will be free of charge unless it says otherwise
The charges will be reviewed regularly.
Copyright
The material available through this Publication Scheme is subject
to the PCT’s copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly
indicated on the material to the contrary, it may be reproduced
free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is reproduced
accurately and not used in a misleading manner. Where any of the
copyright items in this Scheme are being re-published or copied
to others, you must identify the source of the material and acknowledge
the copyright status. Permission to reproduce material does not
extend to any material accessed through the Publication Scheme
that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation
to reproduce such material from the copyright holders concerned.
For HMSO Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues, see the
HMSO web site: www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm
or contact:
HMSO Licensing Division
St Clements House
2-16 Colegate
Norwich
NR31BQ
Tel: 01603 621000
Fax: 01603 723000
Email: HMSO Licensing
Part Three
- Appendix 1: Information that is
exempt from the Freedom of Information Act 2000
- Appendix 2: Bodies involved in inspection/monitoring
- Appendix 3: Index (not included in the web version)
- Appendix 4: Useful Resources
Appendix 1
Disclosure of information that is exempt from the Freedom of
Information Act 2000
- Information accessible to applicant by other means
- Information intended for future publication
- Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with
security matters
- Information that is needed for the purpose of safeguarding
national security
- Certificates in relation to security or national security
- Information is considered exempt if its disclosure is likely
to prejudice the defence of the British Islands or of any colony
- Information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice
relations between the United Kingdom and any other state, or
international organisation
- Information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice
relations between any administration in the United Kingdom and
any other such administrations
- Information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice
the economic interests of the United Kingdom or of any part
of the United Kingdom
- Information held at any time by a public authority in relation
to criminal or civil investigations and proceedings
- Information is exempt if its disclosure is likely to prejudice
law enforcement
- Court records are exempt from disclosure
- Information in relation to audit functions is exempt from
disclosure
- Information is exempt if it is required for the purpose of
avoiding an infringement of the privileges of either House of
Parliament
- Information is exempt from disclosure if it is in relation
to formulation of government policy
- Information is considered exempt if disclosure is likely to
prejudice effective conduct of public affairs
- Information concerning communications with Her Majesty is
exempt from disclosure
- Health & Safety information is exempt if its disclosure
is likely to endanger the physical, mental health or safety
of an individual
- Information is exempt if the public authority holding it is
obliged by regulations to make the information available to
he public in accordance with regulations or would be so obliged
but for any exemption contained in the regulations
- Release of personal information that would contravene the
Data Protection Act 1998 is exempt from disclosure
- Any information that was provided in confidence is exempt
from disclosure
- Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional
privilege or, in Scotland, to confidentiality of communications
could be maintained in legal proceedings is exempt information
- Information is exempt from disclosure if it constitutes a
trade secret
- Information is exempt if its disclosure by the public authority
holding it is prohibited by or under any enactment, or is incompatible
with any Community obligation or would constitute or be punishable
as a contempt of court.
For further information regarding these exemptions please see
the official website at: www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm
Appendix 2
The bodies involved in the monitoring and/or inspection of our
services:
Appendix 4
Useful Resources
Web sites:
Publications
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