Freedom of Information - Publication Scheme

Part One: Introduction

What a Publication Scheme is

This Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely published by the Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust ("The Trust"). It is a description of the information about our Trust that we make publicly available. We shall review the Scheme at regular intervals and monitor how it is operating.

It is important to us that this Publication Scheme meets the needs of the public, patients and staff, and we have designed it to be a route map so that you can find information about the Trust easily.

Under section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Trust has a duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of Trust information. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities, which includes the NHS.

Information not included in the Publication Scheme

The Trust's commitment to publish information excludes any information which can legitimately be withheld under the exemptions set out in the Freedom of Information Act.  The main reasons we would apply an exemption include; for the protection of commercial interests, security, or where the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to personal information.  The full list of exemptions is set out in Appendix 1

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How to use this Publication Scheme

We will state how you can obtain the information outlined within each Class. This will be either via the website or as a hard copy or other media as stated within each Class. The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated as (?) within each Class. Where information is provided at a cost, the charges will be calculated as set out in Class 15.

Where this information is available to download from the Internet, simply click on the highlighted word(s) or use the given website links.

Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files, visit the Adobe website to download this.

If the information you require is not accessible via a hyperlink to either our website or that of another organisation, or you do not have access to the Internet, then please contact the person or department specified via the address shown and ask for a paper copy of the document.

We provide links to other organisations for your convenience, however, if you require a printed version of any information held on another website then you should contact that organisation directly.

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Confidentiality

The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of our patients or staff to protection of their confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998, the Data Protection Act 1998 and at common law. Maintaining the legal right to personal 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 Dr John Somers.

Dr John Somers
Caldicott Guardian
Consultant Radiologist
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
QMC Campus
Derby Road
Nottingham
NG7 2UH

Telephone 0115 924 9924 Ext. 61764

Email:  john.somers@nuh.nhs.uk

The term 'Caldicott' refers to the NHS Guidance on Patient Confidentiality. More information about Caldicott and patient confidentiality can be found in our Information Sharing Protocol in Class 2, or at the Department of Health's Information Policy Unit website website http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en. You can also write to:

Department of Health
PO Box 777,
London SE1 6XH,
fax:01623 724524

Email: doh@prolog.uk.com

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Your rights of access to Information

You are entitled to request information about the Trust under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This supersedes the Code of Practice on Openness in the NHS.  If you cannot find the information you require in this Publication Scheme, you should write to either of the following addresses: 

FOI Office
Patient Records Department
B Floor
Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
QMC Campus
Nottingham
NG7 2UH

Telephone: 0115 9249924 ext

Email foi@nuh.nhs.uk

Sometimes, some or all of the information cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why not when this happens

The Freedom of Information Act recognises that as a member of the public, you have the right to know how public services such as the NHS are organised and run, how much they cost and how you can make complaints if you need to. You have the right to know which services are being provided, the targets that are being set, the standards of services that are expected and the results achieved.

The Act obliges the Trust to respond to requests about the information that it holds and is recorded in any form and creates a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions that the Trust has to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released. A full list of exemptions is attached as Appendix 1.

Access to personal records under the Data Protection Act 1998

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. To do so please contact:

The Data Protection Office
Patient Records Department
B Floor
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Queen's Medical Centre Campus
Derby Road
Nottingham
NG7 2UH

Telephone 0115 924 9924 Ext. 63975

Data Protection Act 1998

The Trust's current Data Protection registration information will be found at the Information Commissioner's website http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk/

The registration number is Z9330681

Information Management

Information falling into the Classes will be retained in line with the Trust's retention and disposal schedules, which comply with the Department of Health circular HSC 1999/53 "For the Record" and the National Archives (Public Record Office) guidance.

Information no longer required for the business purposes of the Trust, that has a continued value under the Public Records Act 1958, is stored at a place of deposit approved by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of holding public records.

Nottinghamshire Archives
County House Castle Meadow Rd
Nottingham, NG2 1AG

0115 958 1634

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Feedback

We welcome any questions or comments about this Scheme which should be sent in writing to

FOI Office
Patient Records Department
B Floor
Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
QMC Campus
Nottingham
NG7 2UH

Telephone: 0115 9249924 ext

Email foi@nuh.nhs.uk

If you have a complaint about the operation of the Publication Scheme, or how the Trust has dealt with your request for information from the Scheme, please write to:

Katie Moore
Head of Patient Public Involvement
Trust HQ
North Road
City Hospital campus
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Hucknall Road
Nottingham NG5 1PB

Tel: 0115 969 1169 ext 76029
Email: katie.moore@nuh.nhs.uk

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