Freedom of Information Guidance
Please consider if your request for information is absolutely necessary to submit at this time and whether under the current circumstances your request could be deferred or delayed.
Every effort will be made to respond to your request within the 20 working day timescale, however, our response may be delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 Virus. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Should you have any questions regarding this, please contact us at foirequests@sthk.nhs.uk
If you remain dissatisfied about the way in which your request has been handled you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office, https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/ Tel: 0303 123 1113
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives people the right to access information held by the Trust.
Where information is not available via the Trust's website, FOI requests can be made by sending an email to: foirequests@sthk.nhs.uk.
We will respond to your request within 20 working days of receiving the request.
However, if this is not possible, we will inform you in writing explaining why.
We are not required to make information routinely available when:
- We do not hold the information requested
- The information is exempt from disclosure under legislation (such as the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or the Data Protection Act 2018), e.g. personal data, confidential information or information that is commercially sensitive
- The Trust cannot easily access the information and it would take too much time to provide .
To view previous Freedom of Information requests:
The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protection of their patient confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, the Data Protection Act 2018 and common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part. To help with this, we have appointed someone who is called a Caldicott Guardian, and who has responsibility to ensure the protection of patient confidentiality throughout the Trust in accordance with your legal rights.
Our Caldicott Guardian is Mr Alex Benson, Burns & Plastics Consultant
Other key Information Governance roles and individuals are:
Christine Walters, Director of Informatics, Senior Information Risk Owner
Anne-Marie Stretch, Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Human Resources, Executive Lead for Freedom of Information
Camilla Bhondoo, Information Governance Manager, Data Protection Officer.
Information Governance Team
Contact details:
- Tel: 0151 426 1600 (switchboard)
- Email: ig@midmerseyda.nhs.uk
or write to us at the below address:
Jubilee Court
Academy Site
Waterside
St Helens
WA9 1TT
Charges for information listed in the Publication Scheme
Most of the information listed in the Publication Scheme will be provided at no charge, such as information on the Trust website; this is clearly stated in the Scheme. The Trust may make a charge for photocopies/print-outs of documents, copies on formats such as CD-ROM / disks and postage. You will be informed of the exact charge before the information is provided. We will require payment before providing the information.
Medical records
Under the Data Protection Act 2018, you are also entitled to access your medical records or any other personal information held about you. To find out how to do this you should contact:
Legal Services
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
Merseyside L35 5DR
Tel: 0151 426 1600 (Switchboard)
Complaints about the Publication Scheme
The Trust's Publication Scheme will be reviewed on an annual basis. Certain elements may be updated throughout the year where practical and possible. If you have any comments, queries or complaints about the publication scheme or the processing of your request, please address these to:
Ann Marr
Chief Executive
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
Merseyside
L35 5DR
Tel: 0151 426 1600 (switchboard)
Alternatively, you are entitled to appeal to the Information Commissioner (Tel: 01625 545 745). Further details can be found at www.ico.gov.uk. The Information Commissioners Office enforces and oversees the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations. To find out more about the information rights in the public interest visit http://www.ico.gov.uk.
Feedback
If you need any help in accessing information in this Publication Scheme, or have any questions, comments or complaints about this scheme, please contact the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator by writing to:
Anne-Marie Stretch
Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Human Resources
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
Prescot
Merseyside
L35 5DR
Telephone: 0151 426 1600
