Freedom of Information
The Freedom of Information Act provides the public with a right of access to recorded information held by public authorities. It aims to promote greater transparency in the way that public authorities operate.
Did You Know…
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) gives people the right to request recorded information held by public authorities, including information which is held by us (NHS Somerset ICB), subject to certain conditions outlined in the Act.
The aim of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities and to inform people how these organisations carry out their duties, why they make the decisions they do, and how they spend public money.
Publication Scheme
Before making a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, you may wish to view our publication scheme, which will direct you to the information that we routinely publish.
Under section 19 of the Act, we have a legal duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme for the publication of information. The publication scheme follows the current model approved by the Information Commissioner.
View our publication scheme [link to page]
Requesting Information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Anyone may request information in writing, stating their name, an address for correspondence (this can be an email or postal address), a description of the information required, and whether there is a preference for the format in which the information is to be supplied.
If you wish to make a request for information under the Act, please contact the Freedom of Information Team via email at somicb.foi@nhs.net or write to us at:
Freedom of Information Team
NHS Somerset
Wynford House
Lufton Way
Lufton
Yeovil
Somerset
BA22 8HR
If the information is environmental, NHS Somerset will respond according to the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004. You do not need to know whether the information you want is covered by the EIR 2004 or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. When you make a request, we will decide which law applies.
If the information is your own personal data, then you should make a Subject Access Request under Data Protection legislation.
For more information in relation to Data Protection Legislation and making a Subject Access Request, please see our Access Your Information/Records page
Your Rights
When making a request, you have the right to be informed in writing whether NHS Somerset ICB holds the requested information and, if the ICB does hold that information, to have it communicated to you within 20 working days. The right to request and access this information can be subject to exemptions which the ICB will apply in accordance with the Act. For more detail, please see the complete list of exemptions that may prevent disclosure.
If you are dissatisfied with the way your request was handled, you are encouraged in the first instance to contact us to see if we can resolve any issues informally and/or request a formal internal review of the decision.
Under section 50 of the Act, you also have the right to approach the Information Commissioner to formally appeal our decision and/or to appeal the handling of an information request. The Information Commissioner’s Office can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
Charges for Information
We will not charge for fulfilling standard information requests from applicants. However, if we estimate a request would cost more than £450 (staff time is calculated at £25 per hour regardless of banding/actual rates) to complete, then as a public authority as stipulated under the Act, we are not required to meet such a request.
In these cases, we will offer the applicant the opportunity to pay the additional costs involved in gathering the information or offer advice on ways in which the applicant could change their request to bring it under the limit.
Format of Information
Whenever possible, we will try and release any information in the format in which it was requested.
In exceptional circumstances, some information may only be available by viewing in person. Where this is specified, an appointment to view the information will be arranged within a reasonable timescale.
Information will be provided in the language in which it is held or in such other language or format (where possible) that is required.
Re-Use of Information Regulations 2015
We allow all information provided to be re-used free of charge in its original context. This may only be done by non-commercial organisations/individuals using the information without profit.
If you are a commercial/for profit organisation, or would like to re-use the information provided in a context other than which it was given, you must apply for a Re-Use of Information licence using the contact details above.
