Welcome
This publication scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely published by Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority (YHSHA). It is a description of the information about our SHA that we make publicly available.
We shall review the scheme at regular intervals and monitor how it is operating. It is important to us that this scheme meets your needs and we have designed it to be a route map so that you can find information about Yorkshire and the Humber SHA easily.
Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2000/20000036.htm
Yorkshire and the Humber SHA has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme for the publication of Yorkshire and the Humber SHA information. The purpose of the act is to promote greater openness of public authorities (of which Yorkshire and the Humber SHA is one).
The publication scheme will help you to find all the information that the SHA publishes. 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 at common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part.
Information Management
Information falling into these classes will be retained in line with Yorkshire and the Humber SHA’s retention and disposal schedules, which comply with Circular HSC 1999/53 and Public Record Office guidance.
Information not required for the business purposes of the SHA is stored at a place of deposit approved by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of holding public records.
Feedback
Any questions, comments or feedback about this scheme should be sent in writing to Joanne Dally, Associate Director of Corporate Business at:
Yorkshire and the Humber SHA
Blenheim House
West One
Duncombe Street
Leeds, LS1 4PL
If you have a complaint about the operation of the publication scheme, or how the SHA has dealt with your request for information from the scheme, please write to Bill McCarthy, Chief Executive, at the above address. Your complaint will be dealt with in accordance with the SHA's complaints procedure, published in the policies and procedures section of the publication scheme.
If we cannot resolve your concerns locally, you may wish to contact the Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether the SHA has dealt with your request in accordance with the act. The Information Commissioner's Ofifce can be contacted at:
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Tel: (0303) 123 1113
Web address: www.ico.gov.uk
Rights of Access to Information
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 which services are being provided, the targets that are being set, the standards of services that are expected and the results achieved.
The Freedom of Information Act obliges the SHA to respond to requests about the information that it holds and is recorded in any form and creates a right of access to that information. The rights to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions that the SHA has to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.
Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access any personal information held about you and you can contact the Associate Director of Corporate Business, Yorkshire and the Humber SHA, Blenheim House, West One, Duncombe Street, Leeds, LS1 4PL to do this.
Environmental Information Regulations enable similar access to environmental information, as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Making an FOI Request
Click here to e-mail a Freedom of Information request
If you need any support or assistance to make your request, please telephone (0113) 295 2051 or you may wish to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service at www.pals.nhs.uk .
