Introduction
The Freedom of Information Act allows members of the public certain rights to access information created and held by the Trust. Under the Act public authorities, of which East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust is one, have two main duties:
- to respond to written requests from members of the public for information held by the authority
- to maintain a Publication Scheme
Our Publication Scheme has been available since October 2003, and it makes available any information routinely published by the Trust.
The purpose of the Act is to encourage a more open culture in the public sector and to give the public access to the information created by public authorities in their day-to-day decision making.
The Act means that members of the public from anywhere in the world can request information, subject to certain exemptions, relating to the Trust's business, for example about our buildings or how we spend our money.
Personal information
Access to your own personal records that may be held by the Trust is not covered by this Act: this still falls under the Data Protection Act.
If you would like access to your medical records, please contact the Access and Request Department, Burnley General Teaching Hospital, Casterton Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2PQ.
For access to other personal information that the Trust holds on you, please contact the Information Governance Team, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Haslingden Rd, Blackburn, BB2 3HH.
What you need to know about the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Your rights - The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives people the right to access information held by public authorities. Under the Act anyone, not just in the UK, can request information.
Some of the information you want may already be available via this Publication Scheme. If you would like to request information held by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust that is not included in our Publication Scheme. please read the following set of guidelines (click on the headings to reveal the information):
How to make a request
Requests for information must be made in writing. Telephone requests cannot be accepted. We accept requests in the form of:
- Letter
Send your request to:
Freedom of Information Requests
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Information Governance
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
Haslingden Road
Blackburn
BB2 3HH
Or email: foi@elht.nhs.uk
You must include your full contact details, stating in what format you would like to receive the information.
We will send you confirmation of the request, including a reference number, which you should quote in any communication with us relating to your request. We will also tell you when you should expect a reply, which, under the terms of the Act, has to be within 20 working days.
Charges
In some cases it will be necessary to charge you for the information. If a charge is required, you will be issued with a fees notice, which you must pay within 3 months. If this is not paid, we will not provide you with the information you requested. If the charges for the request exceed the set upper limit of £450, we will give you some assistance as to what information could be provided to bring the cost below the limit.
Exemptions
Under the terms of the Act some of the information you request may be exempt from disclosure. If this is the case, we will inform you as to what information we will and will not disclose, including what exemption/s have been applied.
Occasionally, our response may take longer than the 20 working days prescribed in the Act because of applying exemptions.
If this is the case we will inform you, giving you a date by which we hope to have replied. If any further delays occur, we will advise you of them as necessary.
Response
Once payment (if required) has been made, we will send you the information requested, provided it is held by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and is not exempt from disclosure. We will try to supply the information in the format you requested, as far as possible.
If we know that the information is held by another public authority, we can transfer your request and contact details to the authority. If you do not want us to do this, then please let us know and we will supply you with relevant contact details of the other public authority so that you can make the request yourself.
Complaints
If you do not think that your request for information has been handled satisfactorily, you have the right to have an internal investigation carried out into the way your request has been handled. Complaints should be directed to:
Head of Information Governance/Data Protection Officer
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Information Governance
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
Haslingden Road
Blackburn
BB2 3HH
Copyright
The information sent to you is subject to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust's copyright, unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated on the material to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading manner.
Where any of the copyright items are being re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source of the material and acknowledge the copyright status. Permission to reproduce material does not extend to any material provided to you that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holders concerned.
For HMSO Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues, see the National Archives website or contact:
The National Archives,
Kew, Richmond,
Surrey, TW9 4DU
Tel: 020 8876 3444
Section 1: Who We Are and What We Do
Section 2: What We Spend and How We Spend It
| a) Financial statements, budgets and variance reports | |
| b) Monthly Expenditure Over £25, 000 | Expenditure over £25000 |
| c) Financial Audit Reports | Click Here |
| d) Our Capital Programme | Click Here |
| e) Our Annual Budget | Click Here |
| f) Board Member Allowances and Expenses | Click Here |
| g) Senior Staff Allowances and Expenses | Click Here |
| h) Our Annual Accounts | Click Here |
| i) Policy on Allowances and Expenses | Conferences and Study Leave |
| j) Staff Pay and Grading Structures | |
| k) Our Funding | Click Here |
| l) Our Charitable Funds | Charitable Funds Annual Report |
| m) Our Procurement and Tendering Processes | |
| n) Details of Contracts currently being tendered | |
| o) Standing Financial Instructions | Click Here |
| p) Standing Orders | Click Here |
Section 3: What Our Priorities Are and How We Are Doing
| a) Our Latest Annual Report | Click Here |
| b) Our Latest Quality Account | Click Here |
| c) Our Latest Annual Accounts | Click Here |
| d) Our Latest Business Plan | |
| e) Our Latest Clinical Strategy | Click Here |
| f) Our Latest Progress Reports to Trust Board | Click Here |
| g) What Our Regulators Say About Us | Click Here |
| h) Audit Committee Summary Report delivered at the Trust Board | Click Here |
| i) Our Service Users Opinions |
Section 4: How We Make Decisions
| a) Board Papers | Click Here |
| b) Patient and Public Engagement Strategy | There are no ongoing public consultations in relation to the Trust at this point |
| c) Public Consultations | Governance Handbook (awaiting update) |
| d) Committee Handbook | Governance Handbook awaiting update) |
| e) Internal Guidance |
Section 5: Our Policies and Procedures
These policies and procedures can be accessed by contacting foi@elht.nhs.uk
The Policy Master Index can be accessed here.
Section 6: Lists and Registers
a) Declarations of Interest
To view the register of Directors interests click here
Full register of interests April 2018 to November 2018
Full register of interests November 2018 to January 2019
Full register of interests February 2019
Full Register of interests March 2019
Full Register of interests April 2019
Full Register of interests May 2019
Full Register of interests June 2019
Full Register of interests July 2019
Full Register of interests August 2019
Full Register of interests September 2019
Full Register of interests October 2019
Full Register of interests November 2019
Full Register of interests January 2020
Full Register of interests February-April 2020
Full Register of interests June 2020
Full Register of interests July 2020
Full Register of interests August 2020
Full Register of interests September 2020 - no declarations for this month
Full Register of interests October 2020
Full Register of interests November 2020
Full Register of interests December 2020
Full Register of interests January 2021
Full Register of interests February 2021
b) Declarations of Gifts, Hospitality and Sponsorship
To view the register of gifts click here
To view the register of hospitality and sponsorship click here.
c) Main Contractors/Suppliers
| Ranking | Supplier Name |
| 1 | Consort Healthcare |
| 2 | NHS Supply Chain |
| 3 | Rowlands Pharmacy |
| 4 | Healthcare At Home Ltd |
| 5 | Community Health Partnerships |
| 6 | Spc Ltd |
| 7 | Medtronic Ltd |
| 8 | Aah Pharmaceuticals Ltd Hills |
| 9 | Roche Products Ltd |
| 10 | Alliance Healthcare |
d) Land and Building Asset Register
This can be viewed here.
e) Capital Assets Register
This is currently being updated.
f) Information Assets Register
Please email ig-issues@elht.nhs.uk
g) CCTV Locations
Royal Blackburn Hospital
- internally at entrances/exits, lifts, public hospital corridors, canteen area
- externally at car parks, hospital grounds and hospital buildings
Burnley General Hospital
- internally at entrances/exits, public hospital corridors, canteen area, Lancashire Women and New born Centre
- externally at car parks, hospital grounds and hospital buildings
Accrington Victoria Hospital
- internally at entrances/exits, public hospital corridors,
- externally at car parks, hospital grounds and hospital buildings
Clitheroe Community Hospital
- internally at entrances/exits, public hospital corridors, externally at car parks, hospital grounds and hospital buildings
Section 7: The Services We Offer
| a) Our Services | Click Here |
| b) Services for which We Recover Fees | |
| c) Fees Recovered For Service | |
| d) Patient Information Leaflets | Click Here |
| e) Newsletters | Click Here |
| f) Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) | Click Here |
| g) Corporate Communications and Media Releases | Click Here |
