Sponsorship, Gifts and Hospitality

Request 1

Thank you for your reply and the information you provided, and assisting in the answering of the questions and the link to your constitution.

I am puzzled why you originally replied to my FOI 12 June 2010 request that the:  "The Trust does not have a policy for Hospitality, Sponsorship and Gifts."

You said in your last reply "The Trust refers to the document “Commercial Sponsorship - Ethical Standards in the NHS” within its accounting procedures."  Can you please email me a copy of these procedures - are these the SFI/SOs?

Response 1

As previously stated the Trust does not have a policy for Hospitality, Sponsorship and Gifts.  Guidance for staff is contained within the Standards of Business Conduct for NHS Staff.

The Trust’s Finance procedures include the document previously referred to “Commercial Sponsorship – Ethical Standards in the NHS” which is published by the Department of Health.  This document is not part of the Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions or Standing Orders.

The Trust applies exemption 21(1) to this request, as this information is available by other means.  However, I wish to offer assistance and advice in the spirit of the Act and a link to the information is provided below;

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4005135

Request 2 

You also said that:  “As mentioned in our previous response this information was not routinely collected centrally during 2008/9."  Does this mean there were some items that were submitted, even if this does not include all Departments?

Response 2

Yes. The Standards of Business Conduct for NHS Staff Policy is being reviewed and the message reinforced with staff regarding complying with the policy.