SOMERSET 2024

foi@somersetft.nhs.uk.

02 July 2025

Our ref: 103694

Category: Admissions and Treatments

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to confirm that the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has now been able to consider the information requested and its disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The information requested and its response is as follows:

Please provide Electro Convulsive Treatment (ECT) information under the FOI act to the following questions: -

1.Please supply patient’s information ECT leaflet

Patients are provided with Royal College of Psychiatrists ECT information leaflet.

2.Please supply patient ECT consent form

Copy attached.

3.Please supply any ECT reports/investigations

We do not have any reports or investigations for this clinic.

4.How many ECT in 2024?

174 between 16 patients

5.What proportion of patients were men/women?

4 Male

12 Female

6.How old were they?

<60 = 1

60 – 75 = 8

76 -80 = 6

>80 = 11

7.What proportion of patients were classified people of the global majority or racialised communities ("POC / BAME")?

8.How many people covered by the equality act - specific protected characteristics - excluding age + gender - received ECT ?

9.How many people were offered talking therapy prior to ECT ?

Some patients who received a course of ECT were assessed as being too clinically unwell to engage in talking therapy (or other forms of psychotherapy) prior to starting their course of ECT. Some patients might have previously received ECT treatment and made a decision to request this as a treatment rather than other treatments (such as talking therapy).

10.How many were receiving ECT for the first time?

11.How many patients consented to ECT?

13 patients consented to ECT treatment, 3 patients were assessed as lacking capacity to consent to ECT treatment and had the appropriate legal framework in place to authorise treatment.

12.How many ECT complaints were investigated outside the NHS ?

None.

13.How many patients died during or 1 month after ECT and what was the cause (whether or not ECT was considered the cause)?

14.How many patients died within 6 months after ECT and what was the cause (whether or not ECT was considered the cause)?

15.How many patients died by suicide within 6 months of receiving ECT (whether or not ECT was considered the cause)?

N/A

16.How many patients have suffered complications during and after ECT and what were those complications?

N/A

17.Have there been any formal complaints from patients/relatives about ECT?

No,

18.If so, what was their concerns?

N/A.

19.How many patients report memory loss/loss of cognitive function?

This information is not immediately available.

20.What tests are used to assess memory loss/loss of cognitive function?

This is decided by the referring team, however an example of a test that might be used is the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA). Also item 17 of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating scale (CPRS) regarding failing memory is asked to patients prior to every treatment.

21.Have MRI or CT scans been used before and after ECT?

Not routinely but many patients will have had radiological investigations as part of their usual psychiatric care.

22.If so, what was the conclusion?

N/A.

23.How does the Trust plan to prevent ECT in the future?

There are no current plans to restrict the available treatment options for patients.

10 July 2025

Our ref: 103721

Category: Admissions and Treatments

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to confirm that the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has now been able to consider the information requested and its disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The information requested and its response is as follows:

Please provide restraints information under the FOI act to the following questions: -

1.Please supply any Restraints/investigations

There haven’t been any reports or investigations relating to the use of restraints.

2.How many RESTRAINTS in 2024?

There were 697 events involving physical restraint reported across whole of SFT on the restraint and use of force form in 2024.

3.What proportion of patients were men/women?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by sex of patient involved:

Female: 62% (n=434)

Male: 31% (n=216)

Prefers to self-describe / other: 7% (n=47)

4.How old were they?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by age of patient involved:

0-18 years: 32% (n=224)

19-25 years: 23% (n=159)

26-45 years: 17% (n=116)

46-65 years: 13% (n=94)

66-85 years: 12% (n=84)

86+ years: 2% (n=17)

Unknown: 0% (n=3)

5.What proportion of patients were classified people of the global majority or racialised communities ("POC / BAME")?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by ethnic group of patients involved:

Asian/Asian British: 1% (n=8)

Black/African/Caribbean/Black British: 0% (n=3)

Mixed/Multiple ethnic background: 1% (n=9)

Other ethnic group: 1% (n=4)

White: 97% (n=673)

6.How many people covered by the equality act - specific protected characteristics - excluding age + gender - were restrained?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by the following characteristics of patient involved:

Disability: 6% (n=43)

Married: 13% (n=89)

Civil partnership: 1% (n=4)

Pregnant: 0% (n=1)

Gender reassignment complete: 0% (n=1)

Gener reassignment planned: 0% (n=3)

Sexual orientation

Gay or Lesbian: 1% (n=8)

Heterosexual or Straight: 34% (n=238)

I would prefer not to say: 57% (n=397)

Other: 8% (n=54)

Religion or belief

Any other religion: 2% (n=12)

Buddhist: 0% (n=3)

Christian: 6% (n=39)

Hindu: 0% (n=1)

Muslim: 0% (n=1)

No religion: 44% (n=309)

Prefer not to say: 48% (n=332)

7.How many RESTRAINTS were investigated outside the NHS?

8.How many patients died during or 1 month after RESTRAINTS and what was the cause (whether or not RESTRAINTS was considered the cause)?

There have been no reported deaths on the inpatient wards following restraint. However, we wouldn’t have access to this information for patients who are discharged from hospital within the one month timeframe, it would require the Radar Support Team to cross reference all reported incidents of restraint and reported deaths.

9.How many patients died within 6 months after RESTRAINTS and what was the cause (whether or not RESTRAINTS was considered the cause)?

10.How many patients died by suicide within 6 months of receiving RESTRAINTS (whether or not RESTRAINTS was considered the cause)?

11.How many patients have suffered complications during and after RESTRAINTS and what were those complications?

This information is not recorded

12.Have there been any formal complaints from patients/relatives about RESTRAINTS?

13.If so, what was their concerns?

N/A

14.Are counts of forced injections available? if so how many people were forcible injected?

There were 92 events involving chemical restraint reported across whole of SFT on the restraint and use of force form in 2024

Rapid tranquilisation / Chemical restraint - Injection (Rapid Tranquilisation): 61

Chemical restraint - Injection (Non-Rapid Tranquilisation): 31

15.How does the Trust plan to reduce restraints in the future?

The Trust has a Proactive Care and Restrictive Intervention Reduction programme (PC & RIRP). This programme is led by our senior lead for PC & RIRP and is shaped by what we call our Proactive Care Model. This model put simply, focusses on the importance of primary and secondary interventions to reduce the likelihood of the need for tertiary (restrictive) intervention.

Our programme has four fundamental components which operate together as a system. At its base is our PC & RIRP co-production forum (1). This feeds into our quality improvement programme (2) (MHiCollab) and our PC & RIRP training programme (3). These all then feed into the PC & RIRP oversight group (PCOG). This is our data analysis and governance function.

Each of our MH inpatient units is managing a local RiRP programme in line with the Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Act 2018 and is supported centrally through our broader ‘Culture of Care’ programme and RIRP QI (2) as above.

16.How many of these restraints were face down restraints?

There were 192 events involving physical restraint in the prone position reported across whole of SFT on the restraint and use of force form in 2024

Please provide SECLUSION information under the FOI act to the following questions:

1.Please supply any SECLUSION reports/investigations

There haven’t been any reports or investigations relating to the use of seclusion.

2.How many SECLUSIONS in 2024?

There were 99 events involving Traditional Seclusion (Type 1) and Seclusion with Engagement (Type 2) reported across whole of SFT on the restraint and use of force form in 2024.

3.What proportion of patients were men/women?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by sex of patient involved:

Female: 34% (n=34)

Male: 49% (n=49)

Prefers to self-describe / other: 16% (n=16)

4.How old were they?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by age of patient involved:

0-18 years: 21% (n=21)

19-25 years: 24% (n=24)

26-45 years: 22% (n=22)

46-65 years: 27% (n=27)

66-85 years: 4% (n=4)

86+ years: 1% (n=1)

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by age of patient involved:

0-18 years: 21% (n=21)

19-25 years: 24% (n=24)

26-45 years: 22% (n=22)

46-65 years: 27% (n=27)

66-85 years: 4% (n=4)

86+ years: 1% (n=1)

5.What proportion of patients were classified people of the global majority or racialised communities ("POC / BAME")?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by ethnic group of patients involved:

Asian/Asian British: 3% (n=3)

Mixed/Multiple ethnic background: 6% (n=6)

Other ethnic group: 1% (n=1)

White: 90% (n=89)

6.How many people covered by the equality act - specific protected characteristics - excluding age + gender - were secluded?

Based on the details recorded on the RI and use of force form, the proportion of the events by the following characteristics of patient involved:

Disability: 12% (n=12)

Married: 17% (n=17)

Civil partnership: (n=0)

Pregnant: (n=0)

Gender reassignment complete: (n=0)

Gener reassignment planned: 2% (n=2)

Sexual orientation

Heterosexual or Straight: 36% (n=36)

I would prefer not to say: 55% (n=54)

Other: 9% (n=9)

Religion or belief

Any other religion: 4% (n=4)

Buddhist: 2% (n=2)

Christian: 2% (n=2)

No religion: 36% (n=36)

Prefer not to say: 56% (n=55)

7.How many SECLUSIONS were investigated outside the NHS?

8.How many patients died during or 1 month after SECLUSION and what was the cause (whether or not SECLUSION was considered the cause)?

We are applying section 12 to questions 8,9,10 & 11.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (TST) and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation (SP) Trust merged on 01 April 2020 to form Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) merged with Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (YDH) on the 01/04/2023.

Under Section 12 of the Freedom of information Act does not oblige a public authority to comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.

To identify this information would require a manual trawl of paper and electronic records which would exceed the timescales allowed by the Freedom of Information Act.

We estimate that the cost of complying with your request would exceed the appropriate limit of £450. The appropriate limit has been specified in regulations and for NHS Trusts it is set at £450. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending 2½ working days in determining whether the Trust holds the information, and locating, retrieving and extracting the information. Under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act the Department is not obliged to comply with your request and we will not be processing your request further.

9.How many patients died within 6 months after SECLUSION and what was the cause (whether or not SECLUSION was considered the cause)?

Please see question 8

10.How many patients died by suicide within 6 months of receiving SECLUSION (whether or not SECLUSION was considered the cause)?

Please see question 8

11.How many patients have suffered complications during and after SECLUSION and what were those complications?

Please see question 8

12.Have there been any formal complaints from patients/relatives about SECLUSION?

13.If so, what was their concerns?

Not applicable

14.How does the Trust plan to reduce SECLUSIONS in the future?

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10 July 2025

Our ref: 103723

Category: Pharmacy

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to confirm that the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has now been able to consider the information requested and its disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The information requested and its response is as follows:

Please provide MEDICATION ERRORS information under the FOI act to the following questions:

1.Please supply any MEDICATION ERRORS reports/investigations

The information you are requesting covers 152 repots which would take a significant amount of time to download and review and identify relevant information for disclosure.

To identify this information would require a manual trawl of paper and electronic records which would exceed the timescales allowed by the Freedom of Information Act.

2.How many MEDICATION ERRORS in 2024?

152

3.What proportion of patients were men/women?

Row Labels	Count of NHS Number
Female	746	42.10%
Male	612	34.54%
NA	409	23.08%
Withheld/not specified/ other	5	0.28%
Grand Total	1772	100.00%

4.How old were they?

Row Labels	Count of NHS Number
0-5yrs	81	4.57%
18-24yrs	42	2.37%
25-34yrs	84	4.74%
35-44yrs	96	5.42%
45-54yrs	114	6.43%
55-64yrs	204	11.51%
6-17yrs	67	3.78%
65-74yrs	245	13.83%
75-84yrs	397	22.40%
85+yrs	304	17.16%
NULL	138	7.79%
Grand Total	1772	100.00%

5.What proportion of patients were classified people of the global majority or racialised communities ("POC / BAME")?

CHART SUPPLIED ON REQUEST

6.How many people covered by the equality act - specific protected characteristics - excluding age + gender - endured medication errors?

Everyone is covered by the equality act.

7.How many MEDICATION ERRORS were investigated outside the NHS ?

8.How many patients died during or 1 month after MEDICATION ERRORS and what was the cause (whether or not MEDICATION ERRORS was considered the cause)?

Row Labels	Count of NHSNumber
(blank)	196
Died within a Month	120
Grand Total	316

Unable to give the cause of death.

9.How many patients died within 6 months after MEDICATION ERRORS and what was the cause (whether or not MEDICATION ERRORS was considered the cause)?

Row Labels	Count of NHSNumber
Died Within 6 Months	251
(blank)	65
Grand Total	316

Unable to give the cause of death.

10.How many patients died by suicide within 6 months of receiving MEDICATION ERRORS (whether or not MEDICATION ERRORS was considered the cause)?

This is not recorded by the Trust.

11.How many patients have suffered complications during and after MEDICATION ERRORS and what were those complications?

Not held on our electronic systems.

The information you are requesting covers X years and therefore X different Trusts

To identify this information would require a manual trawl of paper and electronic records which would exceed the timescales allowed by the Freedom of Information Act.

12.Have there been any formal complaints from patients/relatives about MEDICATION ERRORS?

A total of 13 complaints were received in 2024 that specifically relate to medication errors.

13.If so, what was their concerns?

Please see attached document.

14.How does the Trust plan to prevent MEDICATION ERRORS in the future?

The Trust adopts a proactive approach to medication safety, with a focus on continuous learning and system improvement. Key elements of this approach include:

Incident Reporting and Learning:
All medication-related incidents should be reported through our internal risk management system (e.g., RADAR). These incidents are reviewed by the Medicines Safety Team to identify contributory factors, emerging themes, and opportunities for learning. The Trust has adopted the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), which supports a systems-based approach to incident response and promotes compassionate engagement with staff and patients.

Governance and Oversight:
The Medicines Governance Committee provides oversight of medication-related incidents. The Medicines Safety Team produces a medication incident report every two months for review by this committee, supporting assurance and driving targeted action where needed.

Education and Training:
Targeted training is provided to clinical staff on the safe prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medicines — with a focus on high-risk drugs, known error-prone areas, and themes arising from local and national incidents. Learning is going to be on the medicines safety page of our soon to be launched intranet site. We will promote these pages through existing prescribers blogs and other communications newsletters.

Use of Digital Systems:
The Trust continues to invest in and optimise electronic prescribing and medicines administration (EPMA) systems which has recently been rolled out in Yeovil but have existed for some time in Musgrove and the community hospitals. These systems support safer prescribing through clinical decision support tools, standardised order sets, and prompts that reduce the likelihood of omissions or incorrect dosing.

Audit and Quality Improvement:
Regular audits are undertaken to monitor compliance with safe medicines practices and quality improvement initiatives are implemented in response to identified risks.

Collaborative Working:
The Medicines Safety Team works in partnership with clinical pharmacy, nursing, and medical colleagues, as well as patient safety leads, to promote shared learning and continuous improvement in medication safety.
The Trust's Medication Safety Officer (MSO) is an active member of the national MSO network, which enables the sharing of medicines-related safety information, learning from incidents across the NHS, and the implementation of best practices locally.

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Queries

If you have any queries about the information provided, please contact the Freedom of Information Team on foi@somersetft.nhs.uk or at the above address in the first instance. Please remember to quote the reference number above in all your communications.

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Yours faithfully

Louise Coppin

Head of Information Governance

Data Protection Officer

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date

of receipt of the response to your original letter and should be addressed using the letterhead postal address or email