Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act came into force on 1 January 2004. The Act deals with access to official information, while parallel regulations deal with environmental information.

The Act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority. These requests must be made in writing, either by letter or by email. For Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust letters should be sent to:-

The Freedom of Information Lead
Trust Headquarters
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 2JY

While the address for emails is headquarters@dchft.nhs.uk

In order to keep requests to a minimum the Trust automatically publishes information on its website. In the first instance please search for the information you are looking at on our website at www.dchft.nhs.uk

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has followed guidance from the Information Commissioner and adopted the Publication Scheme for health care which means that we can make the following information available:-

1) Who we are and what we do which covers:-

  • How the Trust fits into the NHS structure
  • The organisational structure of the Trust
  • Details of those organisations which have a partnership relationship with the Trust
  • Who is on the Trust Board
  • The location and contact details for the public-facing departments

2) What we spend and how we spend it which covers:-

  • The most recent copies of the Trust's Annual Accounts
  • In year financial reports as submitted to the Trust Board
    Financial audit reports
  • The Trust's Standing Financial Instructions
  • Details of the proposed capital expenditure for the current year
  • Details of the allowances and expenses which may be claimed by Staff and Board Directors
  • Staff pay and grading structures
  • Funding arrangements
  • Procurement and tendering procedures
  • Details of contracts currently being tendered
  • A list of the contracts awarded and their value
  • Trust Director Expense Claims

3) What Our Priorities Are and How We Are Doing which covers:-

  • The latest Annual Report
  • The Annual Business Plan
  • Targets, aims and objectives
  • Performance against targets
  • The Strategic plan
  • Clinical Governance
  • Audit reports
  • Service User Surveys

4) How we make decisions which covers:-

  • Trust Board Agendas, supporting papers and minutes
  • The Patient and Public Involvement Strategy ( PPI )
  • Recent Public consultations ( if there have been any )
  • Internal communications guidance and criteria used for decision making

5) Our policies and procedures which covers:-

  • Policies and procedures relating to the conduct of business and the provision of services
  • Policies and procedures relating to Human Resources
  • Collective Agreements
  • Management Guidance
  • Medical Personnel
  • Personnel Policies
  • Policies and procedures relating to recruitment and employment
  • Standing Financial Instructions & Standing Orders
  • Making a complaint
  • Information in respect of Data Protection / Information
  • Governance / Caldicott Guardian
  • Estate Management
  • Charging regimes
  • Clinical Policies & Procedures

6) Registers & Lists which covers:-

  • Lists of main contractors and suppliers
  • Asset Registers and the Information Asset Register
  • Register of Gifts and Hospitality
  • Register of Interests
  • Disclosure log

7) The services we offer which covers:-

  • Clinical services provided and/or commissioned
    Non-clinical services
  • Services for which the authority is entitled to recover a fee together with a note of these fees
  • Patient information leaflets and other booklets and newsletters
  • How the Customer Care Department works
  • Advice and guidance
  • Corporate communications and media releases

* Please note that information is provided in the language in which it is held. Where we are legally required to provide this in another language, form or format we will do so in accordance with this scheme.

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for then, following receipt of your written request, we will tell you if the information is held and will normally supply it within 20 working days in the format requested. However, under the following circumstances, the Trust does not have to confirm or deny the existence of the information:-

  • if an exemption applies
  • if the request is vexatious or similar to a previous request
  • if the cost of compliance exceeds an appropriate limit

Should any of these cases apply the Trust will advise you in writing.

If you are unhappy with a refusal to disclose information you should firstly complain to the Trust. If you continue to be dissatisfied with the response you can then appeal to the Information Commissioner who will investigate the case and either agree with the Trust's decision or decide that the information must be disclosed.

The address for the Information Commissioner is:-

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 you are entitled to access your own clinical records and you can do this by setting out the information you want in writing to:-

The Medical Records Department
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Williams Avenue
Dorchester
DT1 2JY

Any questions, comments or complaints about the way in which the Trust publishes information and responds to requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act should be sent in writing to the Chief Executive, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2JP

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