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):

Requests for information must be made in writing. Telephone requests cannot be accepted. We accept requests in the form of:

  • Letter
  • Email

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

 

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p) Patient, Family and Carers Experience Strategy Click Here

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These are published in our Annual Report
b) Monthly Expenditure Over £25, 000 Expenditure over £25000
c) Financial Audit Reports Click Here
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f)  Board Member Allowances and Expenses These are published in our Annual Report
g) Senior Staff Allowances and Expenses Click Here
h) Our Annual Accounts These are published in our Annual Report
i) Policy on Allowances and Expenses Travel and vehicle expenses policy
j) Staff Pay and Grading Structures
k) Our Funding This detail is published in our Annual Report
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

 

a) Our Latest Annual Report Click Here
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c) Our Latest Annual Accounts Click Here
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e) Our Latest Clinical Strategy Click Here
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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

 

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

These policies and procedures can be accessed by contacting foi@elht.nhs.uk

The Policy Master Index can be accessed here.