Freedom of information
Find out more about this service at South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust
Providing you with the information you need
The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities with full access granted in January 2005. The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.
In line with the Freedom of Information Act legislation, South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust has published key documents that you can download or request from our information department.
Please send all requests for information by email or letter to:
Information governance manager
Murray Building
The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road
MIDDLESBROUGH
TS4 3BW
Our duty under the Freedom of Information Act
The trust has a legal obligation under the Act to:
- State whether the information you request exists
- provide that information to you within 20 working days (as long as no exemption applies to the release of those documents).
Requests should be made in writing (or by email) and if they can be sent to our information governance manager we can begin the retrieval process as soon as possible for you.
We shall endeavour to do all we can to satisfy your request within the legislation. However, if you are unhappy with our response, you have the right to raise the matter as a complaint against the Trust and we shall perform a thorough internal review to investigate the decision made. You should also seek advice from the Information Commissioner as to your rights and further actions they can undertake on your behalf to resolve the matter.
Personal information and accessing health records
The Data Protection Act 1998 prevents us from releasing patient and staff identifiable information under the Freedom of Information Act. This information can only be released under strict controls (and with the express permission of the party involved to protect confidentiality and safety). We may decide that a document should be released under FOI but we shall remove any identifiable details from the copy we release.
You have 'subject rights of access' to view any information we keep concerning you, whether this is your medical records or on our electronic patient administration system. Our health records manager will be able to assist you. Please apply in writing to:
Health records manager
The James Cook University Hospital
Marton Road
MIDDLESBROUGH
TS4 3BW
We will not release health records to any other party than the individual concerned unless there is the appropriate power of attorney. A signed release form will be required.
Further details
There are a number of useful external websites about FOI and the NHS:
If you have any general enquiries regarding your treatment or our hospitals, our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) will be able to assist you. Alternatively, you can contact all the hospital departments through the switchboards for both hospital sites:
- The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough - 01642 850850
- Friarage Hospital, Northallerton - 01609 779911
Related publications
NHS Openness Code (www.foi.nhs.uk/cd/codes_openness.html)
FOI Act 2000 (www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/20000036.htm)
FOI Act 2000 Explanatory Notes (www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/en2000/2000en36.htm)
Code of Practice under Section 45 FOI Act 2000 (www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00036--i.htm)
Code of Practice under Section 46 FOI Act 2000 (www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00036--i.htm)