Released 26 July 2023
Request:
I am conducting a study of the emergency preparedness of NHS Acute Trusts in England. I am using the emergency and disaster management module of the Hospital Safety Index checklist of the World Health Organisation. The study is part of an MSc in Crisis & Disaster Management.
I am writing regarding my final request for information about the Trust’s EPRR as part of my study. I would prefer to obtain this information under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in order to ensure that all the information is cleared by the Trust to be made publicly available.
Please note that this is a different request from my previous requests: “EPRR Coordination of emergency and disaster management activities”, “EPRR Planning”, “EPRR Communication and information management”, “EPRR Human Resources” and “EPRR Logistics”. Please also note I am making this request more than 60 working days after my request “EPRR Planning”.
I am writing to request the following information. This information relates to the NHS England Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Framework in general and section 10, “Cycle of preparedness”, in particular.
Please note that much of the information requested is only records of the existence of current procedures, training, resources and tests, and not the contents of the procedures, training, resources and tests themselves.
For clarity, to minimise the cost of my request and to prevent the disclosure of any sensitive information, I have enumerated the information I am requesting and specified how it could be provided.
If you do not hold some of this information then I ask you to confirm explicitly that you do not hold it.
Given the potentially sensitive nature of this information, I ask you to redact any exempt information instead of refusing disclosure. This would be in accordance with guidance on best practice from the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Patient care and support services
Continuity of essential clinical support services
1. Any record of whether procedures exist to ensure operational continuity of essential clinical support or ancillary services (e.g. laboratory, radiology, pharmacy) during emergencies and disasters. (Can be answered yes / no.)
2. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
3. Any record of whether resources to implement the above procedures can be mobilized at all times. (Can be answered yes / no.)
Expansion of usable space for mass casualty incidents
4. Any record of whether procedures and resources exist to expand space and provide access to extra beds in mass casualty incidents. (Can be answered yes / no.)
5. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
6. The date(s) of the most recent test(s) of the above procedures. (Can be answered with a date or dates.)
Triage for major emergencies and disasters
7. Any record of whether space has been designated and procedures exist to carry out triage during emergencies and disasters. (Can be answered yes / no.)
8. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
9. The date(s) of the most recent test(s) of the above procedures. (Can be answered with a date or dates.)
Triage tags for mass casualty incidents
10. Any record the existence of triage tags for mass casualty incidents. (Can be answered yes / no.)
System for referral, transfer and reception of patients
11. Any record of whether procedures exist for the reception, referral and transfer of patients to and from other health facilities within and outside the geographical area where the hospital is located during emergencies and disasters. (Can be answered yes / no.)
12. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
13. The date(s) of the most recent test(s) of the above procedures. (Can be answered with a date or dates.)
Infection surveillance, prevention and control procedures
14. Any record of whether procedures exist for infection prevention and control during emergencies and disasters. (Can be answered yes / no.)
15. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
16. Any record of whether resources are available for implementation of the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
Psychosocial services
17. Any record of whether procedures exist for provision of psychosocial support, assessment and treatment services to patients, families and staff during emergencies and disasters. (Can be answered yes / no.)
18. Any record of whether staff have been trained in the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
19. Any record of whether resources are available for implementation of the above procedures. (Can be answered yes / no.)
Information disclosed:
1 to 3. Yes
4 to 5. Yes
6. March 2019
7 to 8. Yes
9. Staff complete an online training module and carry out an incident training day yearly. Recent training dates include: 25 May, and 1, 8, 15, 22 and 27 June.
10 to 13. No
14 to 17. Yes
18 to 19. No