Requesting personal records
In the event that it is your personal healthcare or your personal staff records that you require then you need to contact the Access to Records department. Please visit their pages here.
Are there exemptions from the Act?
Whilst the Trust and other public bodies will be as open as possible there are 23 exemptions under the Act. Some of these relate to national security, international relations or the justice system - the main exemptions that will apply to the NHS are:
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personal data (except where staff names are mentioned in viewable documents such as Trust Board Minutes or on the Trust website)
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Commercially sensitive information or trade secrets
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Information that is already in the public domain
How do I appeal against a decision not to disclose?
If the Trust decides not to disclose Information the requester will be informed of the basis for the refusal together with a right of appeal and how to exercise it. The first level of appeal will normally be to the Trust.
The final level of appeal will be to the Information Commissioner.
More information
Simply visit, www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk - this is the Information Commission is responsible for the Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Regulations and the Data Protection Act and there is much advice on how individuals can exercise their legal rights.
