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Freedom of Information Act and Publication Scheme

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About the Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives the public a general right of access to all ‘recorded’ information held by Public Authorities. Public Authorities include NHS organisations.

This right is subject to certain conditions and exemptions, which include personal information protected by Data Protection and confidentiality laws. This means records that contain personal or patient details, such as clinical and treatment records, can still only be released to the person they relate to under Data Protection legislation.

The Freedom of Information Act has been brought into force in two stages. The first stage required that a Publication Scheme was developed (details below). The second stage, bringing the Act fully into force, became effective on 1 January 2005 and gives members of the public the right to request specific information from Public Authorities about their organisation that is not provided under the Publication Scheme.

The Freedom of Information Act is enforced by the Information Commissioner, who also oversees the Data Protection Act 1998.

What is a Publication Scheme

A Publication Scheme provides a signpost to information about a public authority and how it is run, as well as other documents and information it will proactively make available to the public. All public authorities are required to adopt a Publication Scheme under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Information Commissioner has now established a standardised Publication Scheme that all public authorities must adopt by 1 January 2009. To find out more about the new Model Publication Scheme visit: www.ico.gov.uk

Information available through the Trust’s Publication Scheme is listed in the ‘Guide to Information’ split into the classes of information defined in the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme.

Where to find out more about Freedom of Information

More information about the Freedom of Information Act 2000 can be obtained from the Information Commissioner.

Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 01625 545745
Web Site: www.dataprotection.gov.uk/

How to obtain the Publication Scheme, or request other information under the Freedom of Informtion Act, from South West Ambulance Services NHS Trust

The contact within South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust for Freedom of Information Act requests is:

Carla Bryan
Information Governance Manager
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Trust Headquarters
Unit 3 Abbey Court
Eagle Way
Sowton Industrial Estate
Exeter
Devon
EX2 7HY

Telephone: 01392 261514
email: publicrelations@swast.nhs.uk

A copy of the Trust's Publication Scheme can be obtained either by post or by email upon request. Individual requests for specific information must be submitted either in writing (via post or fax) or by email.


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Trust Headquarters, Unit 3 Abbey Court, Sowton Industrial Estate, Exeter, EX2 7HY, Tel: 01392 261500, Fax: 01392 261510, Email: publicrelations@swast.nhs.uk

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