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Freedom of Information

The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is to promote greater openness by public authorities.

Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of trust information.

This FOI publication scheme is the Information Commissioner's Office approved model scheme and is a guide to the information routinely published by Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is a description of the information about the trust that is made publicly available. The trust will review the FOI publication Scheme at regular intervals.

The Publication Scheme helps individuals to find information which the trust publishes. The Freedom of Information Act does not change NHS patients right to confidentiality in accordance with The Data Protection Act 2018, The Human Rights Act 1998 and under the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality

Freedom of information requests can be made by email at WHH.FOI@nhs.net or by mail at FOI, Executive Offices, Kendrick Wing, Warrington Hospital, Lovely Lane, WA5 1QG.

Please note: Freedom of information do not process medical records, please re-direct your request to:

https://whh.nhs.uk/contact-us/accessing-medical-records

The trust’s obligation to publish information excludes information which can be legitimately withheld under the exemptions contained within the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

You can seek any recorded information that you think the Trust may hold.

If the information is environmental, the Trust will respond according to the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004.

You do not have to know whether the information you want is covered by the EIR or the FOI Act. When you make a request, the Trust will decide which law applies.

If the information is your own personal data or you are a solictors who has been given consent by your client to access their personal data, then you should make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018, and not under the FOI Act.


How should I word my request?

Comprehensive guidance on submitting effective requests for information is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office. However, to frame an effective request for the information you need to consider the following:

• Clearly identify the information you want. Be clear about date ranges or timescales. If it is not clear what you are requesting, the Trust may need to seek further clarification

• Be as specific as possible. If your request is too general, it may be refused on the grounds that replying would exceed the cost limit laid down in the Fees Regulations, which is equivalent to one person working for three and a half days. If this happens, the Trust will ask you to re-submit a narrower, more specific request which could be met within the cost limits and give you advice and assistance to do so

• Avoid using open-ended questions such as “why”. The Trust does not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded

• Do not mix your request with complaints or comments.

The FOI Act requires certain information to be supplied before the Trust can respond to your request:

• Your real name - the Trust does not have to respond to requests submitted under a pseudonym

• Your address (email addresses are acceptable)

• A description of the information you wish to obtain; and

• Any preferences for the format in which you wish to receive the information, e.g. electronic or hard copy. The Trust will endeavour to meet your preferences but cannot guarantee that it will be able to.

 


How should I word my request?

Comprehensive guidance on submitting effective requests for information is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office. However, to frame an effective request for the information you need to consider the following:

• Clearly identify the information you want. Be clear about date ranges or timescales. If it is not clear what you are requesting, the Trust may need to seek further clarification

• Be as specific as possible. If your request is too general, it may be refused on the grounds that replying would exceed the cost limit laid down in the Fees Regulations, which is equivalent to one person working for three and a half days. If this happens, the Trust will ask you to re-submit a narrower, more specific request which could be met within the cost limits and give you advice and assistance to do so

• Avoid using open-ended questions such as “why”. The Trust does not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded

• Do not mix your request with complaints or comments.

The information in the scheme is divided into broad categories as follows (the links take you to the most appropriate section of the website):

Who we are and what we do

What we spend and how we spend it

What our priorities are and how we are doing

How we make decisions

Our policies and procedures

Lists and registers

The services we offer

Where possible access to information will be offered via this website. Some information may only be available as a hard copy or in another media form. The information is free except where indicated.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.
  • Where possible access to information will be offered via this website. Some information may only be available as a hard copy or in another media form. The information is free except where indicated.

    The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons.

Generally the trust will charge only for hard copies or copying onto a different media. Information on the web site is available free, but for other information there may be a charge if more than 2.5 days are spent in supporting a request for information. We will contact you if your request is likely to exceed that time period.

Current photocopying costs are 25p per copy and postage at cost. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Information from the trust’s website is free. Internet service provider charges and personal printing costs will have to be met by the individual requesting information. Individuals without Internet access can be supplied with a printout from the website to be supplied by post. Requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, will attract a charge for, photocopy and postage. The trust will advise on charges that will have to be paid in advance. The trust does not provide printouts of other organisation’s websites or documents.

Information falling into the classes will be retained in line with the schedules contained within Records Management: NHS Code of Practice.