NHS Freedom of Information Publication Scheme

  1. Introduction: what a publication scheme is and why it has been developed
  2. The class of information that are held by YHPHO
    1. The NHS and how we fit
    2. Who we are
    3. How we are funded, how we spend our money
    4. Our Aims, Targets and Achievements
    5. Our Policies and Procedures
    6. If you want to complain about YHPHO
    7. The Team
    8. Our publications
    9. How do we know we are adding value?
    10. How to request information
  3. Useful resources

  1. Introduction: what a publication scheme is and why it has been developed

    One of the aims of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is that public authorities should be clear and proactive about the information they will make public.

    To do this we have produced a publication scheme, setting out:

    • The classes of information which we publish or intend to publish;
    • The manner in which the information will be published; and
    • Whether the information is available free of charge or on payment.

    This Publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely published by YHPHO. It is a description of the information about us, which we make publicly available. We will review the scheme at regular intervals and monitor how it is operating. It is important that this Scheme meets your needs and it has been designed to enable you to find information easily.

    The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protection of their patient confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, the Data Protection Act and their rights at common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part. To help with this, we have appointed a Caldicott Guardian who is responsible for ensuring the protection of patient confidentiality throughout YHPHO in accordance with your legal rights. At YHPHO, the Caldicott Guardian is:

    Professor Brian Ferguson
    Tel: 01904 724588
    Fax: 01902 321870
    Email: info@yhpho.org.uk

    We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about the scheme. If you want to make any comments about this publication scheme or if you require further assistance or wish to make a complaint then initially this should be addressed to Lorraine Oldridge, Business/Project Lead, YHPHO, Alcuin Research Resource Centre, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD.

    If you are not satisfied with the assistance that you get or if we have not been able to resolve your complaint and you feel that a formal complaint needs to be made then this should be addressed to the Information Commissioner’s Office. This is the organisation that ensures compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and that deals with formal complaints. They can be contacted at:

    Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

    Or

    Enquiry/Information Line: 01625 545700
    E Mail: publications@ic-foi.demon.co.uk
    Website: www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

    Currently, in addition to accessing the information identified in this Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about YHPHO under the NHS Openness Code 1995. Occasionally, some or all information cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why not when this happens.

    The Freedom of Information Act recognises that as a member of the public, you have the right to know how public services such as the NHS are organised and run; how much they cost and how you can make complaints if you need to. You have the right to know what services are being provided, what targets are set, the standards of services that are expected and the results achieved.

    Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. Please contact:

    - For your GP records, contact your GP practice
    - For your hospital records, contact your Primary Care Trust.

  2. THE CLASSES OF INFORMATION
    1. The NHS and how we fit

      Documents currently available:

      • The NHS plan
      • Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation http://www.ohn.gov.uk/
      • Progress & Prospects: APHO Association of Public Health Observatories http://www.apho.org.uk/apho
      • Choosing Health White Paper
      • http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAnd GuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4094550&chk=aN5Cor
    2. Who we are
    3. YHPHO is a regional public health intelligence function with a small central team and a more disseminated group of partner individuals and organisations. Its key role is to improve access to, and analysis of, routine population-based data, expertise and methods to improve decision-making.
      Our main tasks are to support local bodies by:

      1. Monitoring health and disease trends and highlighting areas for action;
      2. Identifying gaps in health information;
      3. Advising on methods for health and health inequality impact assessments;
      4. Drawing together information from different sources in new ways to improve health;
      5. Carrying out projects to highlight particular health issues;
      6. Evaluating progress by local agencies in improving health and cutting inequality; and
      7. Looking ahead to give early warning of future public health problems.
      Documents available are:
      · Organisational chart of YHPHO
      · YHPHO leaflet
      · YHPHO Strategy
      · YHPHO Marketing Strategy
      · Policy Board minutes and agenda www.yhpho.org.uk

    4. How are we funded and how we spend our money
    5. This category includes information about how YHPHO obtains all funding. In certain circumstances information intended for future publication, audit material under certain circumstances, personal information, commercial or confidential information and criminal and regulatory investigative material or law enforcement material under certain circumstances, will be exempt:

      Documents available

      · Service Level Agreement between Department of Health, Regional Public Health Group and YHPHO
      · YHPHO Annual Report

    6. Our Aims, Targets and Achievements
    7. Details are currently available from the following documents:

      · Work Programme 2004 – 2005
      · E-Newsletter (Autumn 2005)
      · YHPHO Annual Report

    8. Our Policies and Procedures
    9. As North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority host YHPHO, YHPHO is governed by their Human Resources, Operational, Clinical and Risk Management policies and procedures which are available at http://www.neynlsha.nhs.uk/

    10. If you want to complain about YHPHO
    11. If you have a complaint about YHPHO or the services provided by YHPHO, please contact:

      Lorraine Oldridge
      Business/Project Lead
      YHPHO
      Alcuin Research Resource Centre
      University of York
      Heslington
      York
      YO10 5DD

      Tel: 01904 724588
      Fax: 01904 321870
      Email: yhpho-info@york.ac.uk

      If you make a comment or complaint by telephone, in writing or via e-mail, you will receive an acknowledgement within two days and a reply within four weeks.

    12. The Team
      • Staff names, positions and contact details can be located at http://www.yhpho.org.uk
      • Some of this information is of a personal and confidential nature and will be excluded as will any other confidential material. Material relating to the health and safety of specific individuals, as to law enforcement or criminal or regulatory investigative material or audit issues may also be excluded from publication
      • Current Vacancies can be located at http://www.yhpho.org.ukn
    13. Our Publications
    14. All YHPHO publications can be located at:

      http://www.yhpho.org.uk

    15. How do we know we are adding value?
    16. For further information about evaluation contact:

      Lorraine Oldridge
      Business/Project Lead
      YHPHO
      Alcuin Research Resource Centre
      University of York
      Heslington
      York
      YO10 5DD
      Tel: 01904 724588
      Fax: 01904 321870
      Email: yhpho-info@york.ac.uk

    17. How to request information
    18. If you require a paper version of any of the documents within the scheme, please contact the YHPHO by telephone, email, fax or letter. Contact details are set out below (or you can visit our website www.yhpho.org.uk).

      Email: www.yhpho-info@york.ac.uk
      Tel: 01904 724588
      Fax: 01904 321870

      To help us process your request quickly, please clearly mark any correspondence “PUBLICATION SCHEME REQUEST” (in capitals please)

      If the information you are looking for is not available via the scheme (and is not on the website), you can contact YHPHO to ask if we have it.

      We will publish any changes we make to this Publication Scheme.

      Information published on our website is free, although you may incur costs from your Internet service provider. If you do not have internet access, you can access our website using a local library or an Internet café.

      Single copies of information covered by this publication are provided free unless stated otherwise. If you request means that we have to do a lot of photocopying or printing, or pay a large postage charge, or is for priced item such as some printed publications or videos we will let you know the cost before fulfilling your request. Where there is a charge this will be indicated by a £ sign in the description box.

      For those without Internet access, a single printout as on the website would be available by contacting:

      Lorraine Oldridge
      Business/Project Lead
      YHPHO
      Alcuin Research Resource Centre
      University of York
      Heslington
      York
      YO10 5DD
      Tel: 01904 724588
      Fax: 01904 321870
      Email: yhpho-info@york.ac.uk

      Requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts from other organisation’s websites.

      The majority of leaflets and brochures will be free of charge. A price may be charged if there is a high quantity requested.

  3. USEFUL RESOURCES

    Information Commissioner’s website
    www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk

    NHS Freedom of Information website
    www.foi.nhs.uk