Access to information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by the Trust. .

The intention of the Act is to encourage a spirit of openness and transparency in the NHS .The Trust fully supports this aim. The public has had full access rights since January 2005. This means that much more information is routinely and freely available. There are access rights to all types of information whether personal or non personal. This is subject to some exemptions, which are outlined below.

Any individual or organisation can make request for information. The Act also gives the right:

to be told if information exists
to receive information (ideally in the format requested, for example as a copy or summary), or
the applicant may ask to inspect a record.

Our Publication Scheme

Our Publication Scheme is available in the pages listed below. It is split into seven sections:
Who we are and what we do
What we spend and how we spend it
Who’s Who – our organisational structure
Who monitors our performance?
Our policies and procedures
Lists and registers | Patient records
The services we offer our community

Where can I get information?

Wherever possible, information will be available through our Publication Scheme and on our website. We are constantly updating and adding to the information on our website. Where we are currently unable to provide information in this way or when an individual does not wish to access the information by the website, we will indicate how information can be obtained by other means and provide it by those means.

In exceptional circumstances some information may be available only by viewing in person. An appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.

Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language that is legally required. Wherever possible, information published on our website will be able to be translated using the translation facility on the site. Where this is not possible and where we are legally required to translate any information, we will do so.

Obligations under disability and discrimination legislation and any other legislation to provide information in other forms and formats will be adhered to when providing information in accordance with our Publication Scheme.

How to make a request

By email to:

FOIRequests@nsomerset-pct.nhs.uk

By post to:

Freedom of Information Requests
Strategic Development Directorate
NHS North Somerset
Castlewood, PO Box 237, Tickenham Road
Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 9AX

Your rights of access to information

As described above, under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 NHS North Somerset has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of PCT information.

you are also entitled to request information about NHS North Somerset under the Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS (1995). Copies of the Code are available from www.doh.gov.uk/nhsexec/codemain.htm. Hard copies are available free of charge by writing to:

Karen Daniel - Publication Scheme Co-Coordinator
Communications Manager - NHS North Somerset
Castlewood, PO Box 237, Tickenham Road
Clevedon, North Somerset, BS21 9AX
Telephone : 01275 546896
karen.daniel@nsomerset-pct.nhs.uk

Sometimes, some or all of the information you ask for cannot be provided. If this happens, the reasons why this information cannot be provided will be explained to you.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the PCT is required to have a Data Protection Officer who is responsible for ensuring that patient confidentiality is maintained.

Suggested working – ‘use this link to find out more information on how NHS North Somerset uses patient information. www.protectinginfo.nhs.uk/Public.htm

The PCT Data Protection Officer is:
Kate Tregale - Information Governance Manager
Avon IM&T Consortium, South Plaza, Marlborough Street Bristol, BS1 3NX
0117 976 6600 - Kate.Tregale@aimtc.nhs.uk
www.avon.nhs.uk/imtconsortium

Feedback

As the Publication Scheme is for you, whether you are a service user, carer, member of staff or a member of the public, it is important that NHS North Somerset’s Board receives feedback.

You are welcome to make suggestions about how this Scheme and the publications themselves might be improved. If you have any questions, comments or complaints about this Scheme, or if you need help in accessing the documents listed in this Publication Scheme, please contact the Publication Scheme co-ordinator.

Primary Care Trusts have responsibility for the development of Local Delivery Plans. These are developed according to Planning and Priorities Guidance (November 2002) produced by the Department of Health.

If you have a complaint about the operation of the Publication Scheme you should contact David Jones, Head of Communications, david.jones@nsomerset-pct.nhs.uk .

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Standing Financial Instructions, Standing Orders, Accountability Framework (including the Scheme of Delegation);
Annual Report
Local Delivery Plan
Board Papers – agendas, minutes and supporting papers (including finance reports);
Professional Executive Committee (PEC) – agendas
Register of Interests - record of interests of Board and PEC members
Organisational Policies – Class 7 lists the Trust’s principal policies;
Organisational Strategies
Communications – press releases and media briefing notes are also publicly available, via the website (www.northsomerset.nhs.uk).
Patient Prospectus

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator for the information you require. Before making your request, please read the following guidance notes: All requests for information must be in writing and include a contact name and address. If the information you are requesting is available from another source, for example on our publication scheme, we may not have to provide you with it. The information you request may fall under one of the exemptions listed within the Act. If this is the case we will not be able to provide you with it. You may be charged a fee depending on the size and nature of your request.

How we deal with requests

Once we receive a request we will send a letter of acknowledgement. We will then make sure that we understand what information you are looking for and if there are any exemptions or fees that may apply. The next stage for us is to find the information you are looking for and then copy and send it to you. Alternatively you may wish to come and view the information or be provided with a summary.

Responding to requests

All requests for information must be responded to within 20 working days. If we need to ask additional questions to be clearer about what you want, this time period could be longer. The Trust is not obliged to comply with vexatious requests or repeated or substantially similar requests from the same person, other than at reasonable intervals.

What information can’t I get?

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.
Information that has been destroyed in accordance with the provisions of our records management policy and schedule of destruction.

Will I be charged for information?

The purpose of our Publication Scheme is to make the maximum amount of information readily available at minimum inconvenience and cost to the public. Charges made by the Trust for routinely published material will be justified and transparent and kept to a minimum. Material which is published and accessed on our website will be provided free of charge. Charges may be made for information subject to a charging regime specified by Parliament.

Charges may be made for actual disbursements incurred such as:

photocopying
postage and packaging
the costs directly incurred as a result of viewing information

Charges may also be made for information provided under this scheme where they are legally authorised, they are in all the circumstances, including the general principles of the right of access to information held by public authorities, justified and are in accordance with a published schedule or schedules of fees which is readily available to the public. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment will be requested prior to provision of the information.

The categories of information which you can access:

About NHS North Somerset (the PCT)
Financial Information
Corporate Information
Aims, Targets and Achievements
Our Services
Reports and Independent Inquiries
Principal Policies and Decisions
Patient and Public Involvement
Complaints Procedures
Human Resources and the Workforce Confederation
Communications and Media Releases
Environmental Information
Operation of this Publication Scheme

Accessing Information

If the information you require is not accessible through a hyperlink to our website or that of another organisation, or you do not have access to the Internet, please contact our Publication Scheme co-ordinator. The Publication Scheme co-ordinator will be able to help you access the information you require. Again, some information may be exempt from disclosure. The PCT aims to provide you with the information you need within twenty working days. If this is not possible, the reasons will be explained. In most instances, there will not be a charge for the provision of information that the PCT has produced. If there is a charge for information, you will be informed what it will be beforehand. The charge will only reflect a reasonable contribution towards the cost of providing the information.

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