PUBLICATION SCHEME - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI)

The Trust has produced a publication scheme (revised Jan. 2005) which is a complete guide to the information routinely published by the trust. It is a description of the classes or types of information about our Trust which we make publicly available.

The publication scheme consists of 3 parts:

PART 1: Introduction

PART 2: The Classes of Information that we hold

PART 3: Inspection and Monitoring Bodies, Index to the Publication Scheme, and Useful Resources

In addition, the Trust also has a Freedom of Information Policy document, which sets out what the Trust intends to do to ensure compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The classes of information that we publish includes the following:

·         The Trust and our position in the NHS

·         Who We Are

·         Financial Information

·         Corporate Information

·         Aims, Targets and Achievements

·         Our Services

·         Reports and Independent Inquiries

·         Policies and Procedures

·         Patient and Public Involvement

·         Regular Publications and Information for the Public

·         Complaints Procedure

·         Human Resources

·         Communications with the Press

·         Environmental information.

The Publication Scheme will help you to find all the information that the Trust publishes. The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protection of their patient confidentiality.

From January 1 2005 the Trust will be obliged to respond to requests about the information which it holds and is recorded in any form, and it will create a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions which the Trust has to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.

NB: The full text of the Freedom of Information Act can be found at: www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000036.htm