I write in response to your request of 5 September 2007 (received 6 September 2007) in relation to Clinical Psychology within NHS Lothian.

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1 Date 17/09/07 Your Ref Our Ref RM/663 Enquiries to Richard Mutch Extension Direct Line Direct Fax Dear FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST POST I write in response to your request of 5 September 2007 (received 6 September 2007) in relation to Clinical Psychology within NHS Lothian. I have been provided with information to help answer your request by Ray Miller, Head of Psychology NHS Lothian. Mr Miller has advised me that the Department of Clinical Psychology is not a single operational management unit within Edinburgh. In fact there are multiple operational management units of which the actual Department of Psychology is one. Psychologists delivering a services to adult mental health in Edinburgh are professionally, but not necessarily operationally accountable to the Head of the Department of Psychology, based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Most aspects of services are delivered through a range of geographical and specialist multi-professional teams that determine key issues of service provision. Within this context Mr Miller has tried to provide answers to questions where these fall within the scope of the Department of Psychology. The waiting time at the Department of Clinical Psychology for a consultation with a clinical psychologist was nine (9) months -say 270 days -as at 9 December If such a referral was made today what would be the waiting time (expressed in days)? Waiting times vary according to the particular service geographically (South West, South Central, South East, North East and North West Edinburgh) and according to speciality (Primary Care Liaison, Community Mental Health Team [Severe and/or Enduring], Older Adults etc.) Psychologists operate as part of multi-professional teams and waiting times are affected by the operational policies of the teams involved. Urgent cases are normally given priority and seen very rapidly. Waiting times for routine referrals currently vary from 180 days to 540 days depending on the level of demand and resources within the specific service and their policy on allocation of cases. Headquarters Deaconess House 148 Pleasance Edinburgh EH8 9RS Chair Dr Charles J Winstanley Chief Executive Professor James Barbour O.B.E. Lothian NHS Board is the common name of Lothian Health Board

2 If a patient was referred to the Department of Clinical Psychology on 9 December 2006 and was told that there was an approximate delay of nine months, then one would expect that patient to be seen around 9 September. As such a patient fitting that criteria has not yet been given an appointment, is this a peculiarity attaching to that patient or has the general waiting period lengthened since 9 December 2006? This will depend partly on the parameters referred to in answer 1 but may additionally be affected by exceptional issues such as staff sickness, maternity, vacancies, etc. Demand for psychological therapies and services (not necessarily all delivered by psychologists) has shown a steady increase and is the subject of review and investment at both Lothian and Scottish National levels. It is acknowledged that there is a need to improve access to psychological services but improvements will necessarily take place over practical timescale. At the Department of Clinical Psychology there was employed in December 2006 a clinical psychologist called Dr Claire Jackson. On what dates did Dr Jackson: Dr Clare Jackson was actually employed by the South East and South West Edinburgh Local Health Partnerships as the sole psychologist member of their joint Community Mental Health Team. intimate to her employers that she planned to leave; and, Notice was given on 19 February 2007 leave your employment? Last working day was 5 April 2007 Has the position previously filled by Dr Claire Jackson been advertised and if so on what date? Interviews for the post were held on 19 July 2007 and an offer of employment was made. If the position previously filled by Dr Claire Jackson has not been advertised: why is this; and, when will it be advertised? Not applicable.

3 When do you anticipate that the replacement for Dr Claire Jackson will be in post? Currently the anticipated date for the new appointee to start is 29 October This is still subject to final contract negotiations. As at 1 September 2007 are the number of fully funded clinical psychologist posts at the Department of Clinical Psychology all filled and if not what is the shortfall? Psychologist posts within the Department of Psychology were all filled at that date although there are absences due to maternity leave and secondment. Other services employing psychologists may have vacancies. Vacancies are subject to operational review and funding is used to create improvements in service provision that may not always result in a straightforward filling of the post vacated. How many clinical psychologists were employed, or worked, full time at the Department of Clinical Psychology on each of the following dates: 1 December December September (excludes 1 psychologist on secondment) How many clinical psychologist were employed, or worked, part time at the Department of Clinical Psychology on each of the following dates (giving for each date the total Full Time Equivalent): 1 December (7.5 wte) 1 December (9.4 wte) 1 September (7.8 wte) How many clinical psychologists (expressed in total Full Time Equivalents) are planned to be employed, or to work, at the Department of Clinical Psychology on each of the following dates: 1 April 2008 No specific staffing target: review of teams in progress 1 April 2009 No specific staffing target: review of teams in progress

4 What is the duration of the planned or anticipated waiting time at the Department of Clinical Psychology as at each of the following dates of referral: 1 April 2008 Waiting list review in progress to address issues 1 April 2009 Waiting list review in progress to address issues Why are those needing clinical psychology excluded from having a waiting time guarantee? This question is best answered by the Scottish Government and I have provided contact details below. It has been acknowledged that there are severe difficulties regarding access to psychological interventions and these are being addressed by improvements in policy, practice and funding (especially for training), but it is clear that the full beneficial impact will take some time. In the meantime it may be more realistic to work towards implementing the service and workforce reviews that will bring improvement about rather than to set artificial targets that may not be attainable at this point. The Scottish Government St Andrew's House EDINBURGH EH1 3DG ceu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk I hope this helps with your request. If you are unhappy with our response to your request, you do have the right to request us to review it. Your request should be made within 40 working days of receipt of this letter, and we will reply within 20 working days of receipt. If our decision is unchanged following a review and you remain dissatisfied with this, you then have the right to make a formal complaint to the Scottish Information Commissioner. If you require a review of our decision to be carried out, please write to Mr I Whyte, FOI Reviewer at the address at the foot of this letter. The review will be undertaken by Mr Whyte as he was not involved in the original decision making process. FOI responses (subject to redaction of personal information) may appear on NHS Lothian s Freedom of Information website at :-

5 Yours sincerely JOHN MATHESON Director of Finance Cc: Chief Executive