Freedom of information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act 2000)  says:

• everybody has a right to access official information
• an applicant (requester) does not need to give you a reason for wanting the information. On the contrary, you must justify refusing them information
• all requesters will be treated equally, whether they are journalists, local residents, public authority employees, or foreign researchers
• only that information which would be given to anyone would be released, so if information requested is personal information, permission would be refused (unless the requester is the subject of the personal information, in which case, please see access to your records)

To ensure a freedom of information (FOI) request is valid it must:

• be in writing, this could be a letter or email, via the web, Facebook or Twitter.  Please email requests to FOI@tavi-port.nhs.uk
• include the requester’s real name
• include an address for correspondence – it can be any address at which you can write to them, including a postal address or email address
• Describe the information requested (eg “Please send me details of the Trust's monthly spend on clinical agency/locum staff for the period 2015/16.")
  

Publication scheme and FoI and EIR disclosure log

Before making a request, please:

• refer to our Publication scheme, which includes a great deal of general information about the Trust
• refer to our FOI and EIR disclosure log, which is new and currently being further developed. The log will eventually include all FOI and EIR questions received since April 2016 which relate to the clinical work  and operation of the Trust.
• note that we are a specialist mental health Trust – requests for information that are not relevant to the clinical work and operation of this Trust have  mostly not been published, except for the most frequently asked irrelevant questions, (eg A&E Services, In-patient departments) in order to further inform potential enquirers reading this log
• note that information held within the Freedom of Information Disclosure Log was only accurate as of the date of each response.

Freedom of information requests

When we receive a request we will:

• confirm that we have received it and let you know how we are going to handle the request
• respond within 20 working days with the information, if we have it to give, or if tell you if there are reasons why we cannot give it, or why we cannot proceed with your request.

Environmental Impact Regulations:

The principle behind the law is that giving the public access to environmental information will encourage greater awareness of issues that affect the environment. Greater awareness helps increase public participation in decision-making; it makes public bodies more accountable and transparent and it builds public confidence and trust in them. Please send any requests for such information to FOI@tavi-port.nhs.uk