Skip to main content
FOI release

FOI – 000075 Ownership of stoma reports (HTML)

Published on 29 April 2022

Date received - 01 April 2022 | Date responded - 29 April 2022

Request

The first Document that I attach is dated June 2019 and titled Effective use of Support Garments for parastomal Hernia. It states that it was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. I believe that this group may come under the auspices of your operation. The contact on it is no longer employed by the NHS in Scotland. Can I check is this document is owned by NSS and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS Scotland can you shed light on the ownership of it?

Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS Scotland. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document?

On the Second Document Titled: National Stoma Quality Improvement which again says this was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. Again, I believe that this group comes under the auspices of your NSS/Scottish Government Operation. Can I check is this document is owned by NHS Scotland and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS can you shed light on the ownership of it?

Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document?

I do note again on this paper that there is no patient involvement, however there is the involvement of a trades group that promotes the interests of the Pharmaceutical Industry. A trades group that also employs political lobby groups for to promote their interests. Can I ask is it NSS/Scottish Government policy to exclude patients when important papers like this are being drawn up that could have far reaching consequences to the care that they receive?

Or is it NSS/Scottish Government Policy to have patients front and centre and involved in decision making?

Response

I refer to your freedom of information request that we received on 1 April 2022 requesting the following information: The first Document that I attach is dated June 2019 and titled Effective use of Support Garments for parastomal Hernia. It states that it was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. I believe that this group may come under the auspices of your Operation. The contact on it is no longer employed by the NHS in Scotland. Can I check is this document is owned by NSS and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS Scotland can you shed light on the ownership of it? Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS Scotland. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document? On the Second Document Titled: National Stoma Quality Improvement which again says this was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. Again, I believe that this group comes under the auspices of your NSS/Scottish Government Operation. Can I check is this document is owned by NHS Scotland and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS can you shed light on the ownership of it? Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document? I do note again on this paper that there is no patient involvement, however there is the involvement of a trades group that promotes the interests of the Pharmaceutical Industry. A trades group that also employs political lobby groups for to promote their interests. Can I ask is it NSS/Scottish Government policy to exclude patients when important papers like this are being drawn up that could have far reaching consequences to the care that they receive? Or is it NSS/Scottish Government Policy to have patients front and centre and involved in decision making?

I can advise you that we have now completed the search of our records and can provide you with the following information: The first Document that I attach is dated June 2019 and titled Effective use of Support Garments for parastomal Hernia. It states that it was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. I believe that this group may come under the auspices of your Operation. The contact on it is no longer employed by the NHS in Scotland. Can I check is this document is owned by NSS and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS Scotland can you shed light on the ownership of it?

This document was created by the Support Garment Short Life Working group set up during the work on the National Stoma Quality Improvement Short Life Working Group (SNLQ). The SNQIG was commissioned by the NHS Scotland Executive Nurse Director Group (SEND) and established in February 2018. Ownership would then be the SNLQ. Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS Scotland. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

The recommendations in the document are as stated, recommendations. Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document?

No Equality Impact Assessment was carried out for this review. On the Second Document Titled: National Stoma Quality Improvement which again says this was ratified by the Scottish Executive Nurse Director Group. Again, I believe that this group comes under the auspices of your NSS/Scottish Government Operation. Can I check is this document is owned by NHS Scotland and/or Scottish Government or in your role as Chief Executive of NSS can you shed light on the ownership of it?

In this document on page 3 under the “Document Control Sheet” section, the owner is clearly stated as:

Craig Stewart Associate Nurse Director /IJB Lead East Ayrshire

Chair of National Stoma Quality Improvement SLWG

Although Craig Stewart has since retired ownership would be presumed to remain with the National Stoma Quality Improvement SLWG.

Can I ask as well are the recommendations contained within it, just that recommendations or indeed Scottish Government Policy or a Policy Document from NSS. Or are they even just part of a paper on Health care?

The recommendations in the document are as stated, recommendations. Also, can I ask for a copy of the Equality Impact Assessment that would have had to be completed if this is indeed a policy document?

No Equality Impact Assessment was carried out for this review. I do note again on this paper that there is no patient involvement, however there is the involvement of a trades group that promotes the interests of the Pharmaceutical Industry. A trades group that also employs political lobby groups for to promote their interests. Can I ask is it NSS/Scottish Government policy to exclude patients when important papers like this are being drawn up that could have far reaching consequences to the care that they receive?

I am unable to answer this question directly but note that on page 15 in the document in Section 1.6 “Stakeholder Engagement” it is stated:

1.6.4 The SSF membership has wide representation including; Community Pharmacy Scotland and stoma trade industry body representatives, Scottish Stoma Nurse Group, appliance contractors, NSS NP and an NHS Board colorectal surgeon who acts as chair of the SSF. There are also 3 patient support organisations members representing; ileostomy, colostomy and urostomy patients. Or is it NSS/Scottish Government Policy to have patients front and centre and involved in decision making?

During the work of this SLWG the NHS in Scotland, including NSS was subject to: CEL 4 (2010) Informing, Engaging And Consulting People In Developing Health And Community Care Services (https://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/CEL2010_04.pdf); and The Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011

These have been updated since to PLANNING WITH PEOPLE Community engagement and participation guidance released in March 2021.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information please contact Associate Director Information Security & Governance, within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Email: nss.foi@nhs.scot

Address

NHS National Services Scotland Headquarters Gyle Square 1 South Gyle Crescent Edinburgh EH12 9EB

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.