Freedom of information

Last updated: Tuesday 19 November 2024

The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is to promote greater openness by public authorities.

Freedom of information requests can be made by:

Email: whh.foi@nhs.net 

By post: FOI, Executive Offices, Kendrick Wing, Warrington Hospital, Lovely Lane, WA5 1QG.

Requests for personal information such as medical records are exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The Freedom of Information team does not have access to clinical systems or medical records.  Therefore, we are unable to assist you in providing personal information through the Freedom of Information process. 

For information on how to access your medical record, please visit the accessing medical records page.

What can I request?

You can seek any recorded information that you think the Trust may hold.

If the information is environmental, the Trust will respond according to the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004.

You do not have to know whether the information you want is covered by the EIR or the FOI Act. When you make a request, the Trust will decide which law applies.

If the information is your own personal data or you are a solicitors who has been given consent by your client to access their personal data, then you should make a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018, and not under the FOI Act.

How should I word my request?

Comprehensive guidance on submitting effective requests for information is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office. However, to frame an effective request for the information you need to consider the following:

  • Clearly identify the information you want. Be clear about date ranges or timescales. If it is not clear what you are requesting, the Trust may need to seek further clarification.
  • Be as specific as possible. If your request is too general, it may be refused on the grounds that replying would exceed the cost limit laid down in the Fees Regulations, which is equivalent to one person working for three and a half days. If this happens, the Trust will ask you to re-submit a narrower, more specific request which could be met within the cost limits and give you advice and assistance to do so.
  • Avoid using open-ended questions such as “why”. The Trust does not have to answer your question if this would mean creating new information or giving an opinion or judgment that is not already recorded.
  • Do not mix your request with complaints or comments.

What information must I include in my request? 

The FOI Act requires certain information to be supplied before the Trust can respond to your request:

  • Your real name - the Trust does not have to respond to requests submitted under a pseudonym
  • Your address (email addresses are acceptable)
  • A description of the information you wish to obtain; and
  • Any preferences for the format in which you wish to receive the information, e.g. electronic or hard copy. The Trust will endeavour to meet your preferences but cannot guarantee that it will be able to.
Classes of information

The information in the scheme is divided into broad categories as follows (the links take you to the most appropriate section of the website):

• Who we are and what we do

• What we spend and how we spend it

• What our priorities are and how we are doing

• How we make decisions

• Our policies and procedures - please see below for more information

• Lists and registers

• The services we offer

Where possible access to information will be offered via this website. Some information may only be available as a hard copy or in another media form. The information is free except where indicated.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons

Where possible access to information will be offered via this website. Some information may only be available as a hard copy or in another media form. The information is free except where indicated.

The classes of information will not generally include:

  • Information the disclosure of which is prevented by law, or exempt under the Freedom of Information Act, or is otherwise properly considered to be protected from disclosure
  • Information in draft form
  • Information that is no longer readily available as it is contained in files that have been placed in archive storage, or is difficult to access for similar reasons
Cost of information

Generally the Trust will charge only for hard copies or copying onto a different media. Information on the website is available free, but for other information there may be a charge if more than 2.5 days are spent in supporting a request for information. We will contact you if your request is likely to exceed that time period.

Current photocopying costs are 25p per copy and postage at cost. If a charge is to be made, confirmation of the payment due will be given before the information is provided. Payment may be requested prior to provision of the information.

Website information

Information from the Trust’s website is free.

Internet service provider charges and personal printing costs will have to be met by the individual requesting information. Individuals without internet access can be supplied with a printout from the website to be supplied by post. Requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, will attract a charge for, photocopy and postage. 

The Trust will advise on charges that will have to be paid in advance. The Trust does not provide printouts of other organisation’s websites or documents.

Information management

Information falling into the classes will be retained in line with the schedules contained within Records Management: NHS Code of Practice.

Quarterly compliance report

2024-25 FOI compliance Q1

2023-24 FOI compliance Q1

2023- 24 FOI compliance Q2

2023-24 FOI compliance Q3

2023-24 FOI compliance Q4

Publication scheme

Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of trust information.

This FOI publication scheme is the Information Commissioner's Office approved model scheme and is a guide to the information routinely published by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It is a description of the information about the trust that is made publicly available. The trust will review the FOI publication Scheme at regular intervals.

The Publication Scheme helps individuals to find information which the trust publishes. The Freedom of Information Act does not change NHS patients right to confidentiality in accordance with The Data Protection Act 2018, The Human Rights Act 1998 and under the Common Law Duty of Confidentiality. 

Access our publication scheme

Policies and procedures

NHS organisations need formal written procedural documents to indicate standard ways of working and to clarify operational requirements to staff.

We have robust monitoring arrangements for the management of procedural documents and an integrated database used for storage and the monitoring of these arrangements.

If you would like a copy of a policy or procedural document please contact:

whh.foi@nhs.net