PDP - FOI News Update - 1 August 2018

Issue: 01/08/2018 News Action urged over Whitehall FOI failings Major government departments are continuing to demonstrate persistent delays and unhelpfulness in their responses to information requests, according to research conducted by the BBC. The Home Office, Ministry of Justice and Cabinet Office have been frequently criticised by the Information Commissioner for their inadequate handling of FOI applications, with the Home Office having a particularly poor record. Maurice Frankel, leader of the Campaign for FOI, said the ICO should take "stronger action" as a result of the BBC findings. He said: "Departments have discovered that they can repeatedly ignore the regulator - and nothing happens. The solution is in the commissioner's hands. She should promptly serve chronic offenders with enforcement notices and threaten court action if they fail to comply. She should also report the problem to Parliament and encourage a select committee to ask ministers in front of the TV cameras why they are treating the public's right to know with contempt."  FOI law being used to break the system in Scotland Freedom of information legislation has been used to try to "delegitimise" the SNP government and "break" the system, according to ministerial advisers in Scotland. The civil servants' claims emerged as part of the Scottish Information Commissioner's review into the government's FOI handling, although the claims never made it into the SIC's final report. Maurice Golden, a Conservative MSP and the party's chief whip, said: "This tells you everything you need to know about the SNP's attitude to legally-binding FOI laws. It's a shocking point of view, and one the SNP government must seek to change as a matter of urgency."    Irish businessman promises to open up Entrepreneur and prospective presidential candidate Gavin Duffy has pledged to back greater financial transparency for the Office of the President if he wins a nomination to enter the upcoming election. Freedom of information legislation currently does not extend to the Office of the President. Mr Duffy told The Times that the President's use of public money should be open to the same scrutiny as other public bodies. He acknowledged that the government would need to change the law but said he would support such a change if he were to become president. "I don't see why the Áras should be ringfenced from the rest of the Oireachtas," he said.    Embarrassment "not grounds for rejecting FOI requests" in States of Jersey Freedom of information requests will not be rejected to "avoid embarrassment", the States of Jersey's Communications Director has said after a 47-page report indicated that submissions that were "reputation-critical" should be approved by the States before being processed. An audit of communications protocols, which was released following an FOI request, laid out 60 actions points including one that said: "Communications should have a formal role in approving sensitive/reputation-critical FOIs, and a revised process should be put in place to provide for this." However, Communications Director Stephen Hardwick has denied that this is now policy, saying that the report was written in November, and that that particular action point had since been scrapped. More freedom of information news and articlesVisit the website to receive a Free Sample Copy or to Subscribe Now"PDP's FOI journal has proved very helpful in keeping us up to date with developments in FOI, interesting news and case law."Deborah Coombs Nottingham University Hospitals NHS TrustSubscribe to two or more journals at the same time and receive a discount For more information, visit PDP Journals Professional and practical Training Courses enable delegates to understand the legal requirements in key areas of compliance.     The following is a selection of some of PDP's current courses.     FOI Practical Training - Level 1 (Essential Knowledge) Estelle Dehon Cornerstone Barristers Since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came fully into force in 2005 we have experienced a fundamental change in the relationship between UK government and its citizens as government information has become more publicly accessible. Greater transparency is also a key policy of the Coalition Government, and in light of the deficit reduction programme there is an ever increasing public interest in how public money is spent. This has led to the publication of a wide range of public sector datasets and proposals to expand the Freedom of Information Act through the Protection of Freedoms Bill. Information Officers are central to these developments and need to be fully aware of the Act and the impact of future changes to it.This training session is designed to help those who are on the receiving end of requests for information and those who advise and assist them.This training course can be used as credit towards gaining the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information.Upcoming dates for this training course are: Belfast           Monday, 24th September 2018 Manchester   Tuesday, 16th October 2018 For further information and to make a booking, Visit PDP's website  Telephone PDP at +44 (0)207 014 3399 Download the PDF Training Catalogue    FOI Practical Training - Level 2 (Applying the Exemptions) Liz Fitsimons Eversheds Public sector bodies must make daily decisions on how to respond to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and how to apply the exemptions in the Act. Those decisions are increasingly reviewed and, in many cases, overturned by the Information Commissioner, the Information Tribunal and the Courts. As case law develops and changes, public authorities need to ensure that they understand when the exemptions can be applied, and what they have to demonstrate to apply them correctly.This training session considers in detail the practical application of the main FOI exemptions.A discount is available for delegates booking both FOI Level 1 and FOI Level 2.This training course can be used as credit towards gaining the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information.Upcoming dates for this training course are: Belfast           Tuesday, 25th September 2018 Manchester    Wednesday, 17th October 2018 For further information and to make a booking, Visit PDP's website  Telephone PDP at +44 (0)207 014 3399 Download the PDF Training Catalogue  Records Management 1 John Wilson JMW Mosaic Organisations face increasing pressure to manage their records according to statutory and business requirements. As the use of electronic records and the deployment of electronic document and records management systems continue to increase, the core skills of the person responsible for records management become ever more important to the organisation. In many cases, appropriate data protection and FOI compliance will depend upon a good records management system.This invaluable training session, led by John Wilson, examines core concepts of good records management practice.Records Management 1 is an introductory level session that provides delegates with a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of records management, including: introduction - basic concepts records management tools records lifecycle approach designing a file plan records destruction legal framework / compliance management of electronic records and email  Upcoming dates for this training course are: London           Tuesday, 17th July 2018 Manchester    Wednesday, 5th September 2018 Edinburgh      Thursday, 4th October 2018 For further information and to make a booking, Visit PDP's website  Telephone PDP at +44 (0)207 014 3399 Download the PDF Training Catalogue    Records Management 2 This course examines how to implement good records management practice. Led by John Wilson, Records Management 2 is an intermediate level session that provides a grounding in the fundamentals of records management, including: introduction - initiating a records management project records audit process mapping building a business classification scheme measuring performance EDRMS sustaining a records management programme Delegates are encouraged to share their own experiences at the session. The day will be a mixture of presentation and practical exercises. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions.Upcoming dates for this training course are: London           Wednesday, 18th July 2018 Manchester    Thursday, 6th September 2018 Edinburgh       Friday, 5th October 2018 A discount is available for delegates attending both the Level 1 and Level 2 sessions, as well as for multiple delegates attending from the same organisation. For further information and to make a booking, Visit PDP's website   Telephone PDP at +44 (0)207 014 3399 Download the PDF Training Catalogue  Understanding the EIRs   Next training sessions taking place in Belfast, Manchester & London    Public authorities and their advisors, and those contracting with the public sector or carrying out public functions, need to understand the scope of the Regulations in order to handle information requests correctly.     This training session explains the meaning and scope of the EIR. It examines in detail the boundary with FOI, based on decisions of the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal and on guidance from DEFRA. Find out more >            Freedom of Information Journal   The latest edition (Volume 14, Issue 4), features the following articles:Back to the FOIA: how FOIA affects historical records - Paul Gibbons, aka FOIManTo hold, or not to hold - that is the question - Lynn Wyeth, Leicester City CouncilRecent decisions of the Commissioner and Tribunal - Alison Berridge & Imogen Proud, Monckton Chambers Request a FREE sample or Take out a New Subscription  For more information, please visit PDP Journals     Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information       Flexible training options allow you to train alongside other commitments   More information >         "I am very pleased to have achieved the Practitioner Certificate in Freedom of Information. The programme provides excellent knowledge and understanding on the practical applications of handling requests for information" Louise Smith Financial Ombudsman Service "A very worthwhile qualification which I wholeheartedly recommend to colleagues" Barbara Tyldesley The Environment Agency "I am so pleased to have passed the Practitioner Certificate in FOI. The 4 day course was excellent and I am now confident in my role as FOI Officer for Social Services. The course has helped me develop my skills and knowledge of FOI/EIR and DP and I would encourage anyone working in this area to attend." Rachael Strand Flintshire County Council "The Practitioner Certificate in FOI was an excellent opportunity to receive specialised training and gain a recognised qualification. In particular, I found the instructors to be both knowledgeable and engaging. As a regulator in an overseas territory, I was easily able to translate the learning into practice. I have and do encourage other FOI practitioners to take advantage of this training programme." Clara Smith Information Commissioner's Office (Grand Cayman) "I am delighted to have passed my examination, achieving this qualification and attending the courses have been a very positive experience which have boosted my confidence and enthusiasm for this subject. I found the courses very informative and the course handout binders are an excellent reference tool which is very relevant to the workplace." Julie Johnson Durham County Council "I'm delighted to have passed the exam; it was hard work preparing for an exam, having not sat one for over 10 years, but the course materials really helped structure my revision. Passing has increased my confidence in dealing with the Act which will be of benefit to myself as well as my organisation." Heledd Thomas Comisiynydd y Gymraeg "I found this to be a comprehensive course, which was well structured to be relevant and of interest to everyone from FOI beginners to more seasoned practitioners. The course tutors were very knowledgeable and clearly very interested in their respective topic areas, and the course was similarly detailed and well-taught." Mark Reynolds Barclays "I'm thrilled to have gained this qualification. FOI can be a complicated area to understand and apply, but the tutors were excellent in bringing it to life in an interesting way." Angela Sanderson Big Lottery Fund "The Practitioner's Certificate has equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to undertake my role. I found the courses well presented and easy to follow. The case studies are particularly useful, as they give an insight into different scenarios that one may experience. I would recommend PDP to anyone wanting to gain this qualification." Kim Starbuck London Borough of Barking and Dagenham "Both the thought provoking training and materials as well as passing the exam will help to ensure we provide a prompt quality service when dealing with information requests particularly as those involving planning can raise complex issues" John Pierce The Department for Communities and Local Government

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Healthcare digital transformation maps the new patient journey

HealthIT Digest A roundup of health IT content from TechTarget's network |July 26, 2018   FEATURED STORY Access to records and data influence patient experience By Scott Wallask, Editorial Director The modern patient experience features flavors of consumerism combined with healthcare data. Giving patients greater access to that information is one area in which technology options thrive. (SearchHealthIT.com) Advertisement   NEWS   Blue Button 2.0 is the new API for Medicare claims Blue Button 2.0 is a new healthcare API aimed at making sense of Medicare claims. Developed by the U.S. Digital Service at HHS, the API is in 500 developer hands so far.(SearchHealthIT.com)   U.K. medical centers test healthcare blockchain tech A pilot program in the U.K. is testing MyClinic.com, a telemedicine application that allows patients to schedule video consultations with doctors and pay for services with cryptocurrency. (SearchHealthIT.com)   EXPERT ADVICE   Despite advantages, AI in hospitals hits roadblocks Finding enough funds and validating data quality can be heavy challenges when it comes to adopting AI technology in healthcare organizations. Hospital IT professionals explain their approaches. (SearchHealthIT.com)   AI in healthcare holds diagnostic promise Prevention of heart attacks and diagnoses of cancer may one day improve, thanks to AI. Infograph statistics reveal promising findings for AI applications in healthcare. (SearchHealthIT.com) About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from HealthIT Digest, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget HealthIT Media Group, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com">webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.

New care record guide to support patient safety and better care

New care record guide to support patient safety and better care

The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) has published its revised standards for the structure and content of health and care records to support digital information sharing among professionals and help people access better, safer care.

The “PRSB Standards for the Structure and Content of Health and Care Records” are an essential resource that describes the standardised information that should be gathered and shared in care records, which can then be exchanged digitally across the NHS and social care, whenever and wherever they are needed. The publication contains the structure and descriptions for the content of health and care records.

PRSB has revised and aligned its standards to support the digital exchange of health and care records and communications between different systems, using Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). When combined, standardised care records and FHIR technology will allow information to flow directly from one IT system to another helping people to access safe, high quality, timely and efficient care. The work forms part of the drive within health and social care to improve the use of information and technology. This will give patients more control over their health and well-being, empower carers by ensuring they have access to information, reduce administrative burden for care professionals and support research and the development of new medicines and treatments. INTEROPen has published the first FHIR profiles, which will support the transfer of information between different systems.

Publication of the 2018 “PRSB Standards for the Structure and Content of Health and Care Records” replaces the 2013 “Standards for the Clinical Structure and Content of Patient Records”. The PRSB standards have been updated to reflect current professional practice and incorporate new or changed structured content resulting from the development of detailed transfer of care standards. They have been developed with input from thousands of professionals from all health and social care specialties, carers and people who access services. They agreed what information is essential to share in order to provide timely, high-quality care efficiently that is well-coordinated and meets an individual’s needs.

This is the first major release since 2013 and PRSB has produced guidance, FAQs and other materials to help organisations and system suppliers replace previous versions of the standards in their information systems.

Professor Maureen Baker CBE, chair of the PRSB, said: “We now have the key ingredients that health and care services need to join up information anywhere, at any time in the system. With the publication of the PRSB revised standards aligned to FHIR technology we are now poised to deliver truly shared care records and reap the benefits of safer, better, more efficient care.” The standard has been published by the PRSB in collaboration with NHS Digital and the Royal College of Physicians Health Informatics Unit.

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