Frequently Asked Questions

 

This page contains answers to common questions:

If your question about the process of asking for information is not answered here please send us your question by clicking here. We will try to answer your question as soon as possible and will also add that question to this list.

 

What happens when I make a request?

 

The hospital has 20 working days to comply with your request. If the hospital does not have the information you require, the Information Governance Team will let you know within 20 working days of receiving your request.

 

If the hospital does have the information you require and it is available free of charge then you will be provided with a copy within 20 days working days. (Please see ‘Do I have to pay for information?’ question below.)

 

The hospital will try its best to provide you with the information you have requested in the format you require, for example: paper, electronic, CD-ROM (please note there may be a charge for some formats).

 

Do I have to pay for information?

 

As a general rule:

• anything listed in the Publication Scheme is available free of charge if providing one copy in paper-format or if it is downloaded from our website or sent electronically;
• there may be a charge for multiple copies or copying onto media, for example, a CD-ROM.

If a fee will be charged, the Information Governance Team will let you know on receipt of your request and then will await payment before sending you the information.

 

What happens if I have a query about the hospital information I receive?

 

If you have a query about the content of the hospital information you receive then:

• if the information is listed in the Publication Scheme, the relevant contact details will be detailed in the same section of the Scheme;
• if there are contact details on the information then you can telephone or write to the contact directly.

If there are no contact details available, the Information Governance Team will find the correct person for you to contact.

 

Is there any information that the hospital will not give me?

 

The hospital will make every effort to provide you with a copy of the information requested and may have to ask you a few questions to make sure that we provide you with what you want.

 

There may be some documentation or certain parts of that documentation which we are not allowed to release. Some examples of why we would not be allowed to release information under this act might be if it was:

• someone else’s medical records
• a company’s trade secrets
• information the hospital received in confidence.
  

How do I make a complaint about the way my request has been handled?

 

If you are unhappy with the way the hospital has handled your request for information, please refer to our complaints procedure.

Does this mean that someone else can look at my information?

 

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not change your right to confidentiality, therefore your personal data is still protected under the Data Protection Act 1998 and will not be shared with anyone who is not entitled to it.

If you want a copy of your medical records, these can be accessed via the Access to Health Records Team . Please see the booklet entitled ‘How to Access Your Health Records’ available from South Reception or on wards.