Freedom of Information

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The Freedom of Information Act 2000 promotes greater openness by public authorities. It 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 1998 and common law.

We are committed to maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality: to help with this, we have appointed a senior clinician, called the Caldicott Guardian, who advises the Trust on the protection of patient confidentiality in accordance with your legal rights.

The Oxford University Hospitals' Caldicott Guardian is:

  • Dr Christopher Bunch
    Consultant Physician
    Level 3, Academic Centre
    John Radcliffe Hospital
    Headley Way
    Headington
    Oxford OX3 9DU

Information management

Information will be retained in line with the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust's retention and disposal schedules, which comply with the Records Management: Code of Conduct and Public Record Office Guidance.

Information not required for the business purposes of the Trust is stored at the Trust and at a Place of Deposit approved by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of holding public records.

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How to access information

Below is an outline of your rights of access to information, which can be found either on this website or supplied as hard copies or other media.

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.

You are entitled to request information about the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust under the NHS Openness Code 1995. Copies of the NHS Openness Code 1995 are available free of charge from http://www.dh.gov.uk/nhsexec/codemain.htm, hard copies are also available from:

  • Department of Health
    PO Box 777
    London SE1 6XH
    Tel: 08701 555455

From 1 January 2005, individual rights of access to information became available under Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. From this time you have a right to be told whether the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust holds the information you have asked about and, if so, to have that information disclosed. Sometimes, some or all of the information you ask for cannot be provided. If this happens, we will explain the reasons why.

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. To do this you will need to complete a Subject to Access Request form, which is available from:

  • Health Records Manager
    Level 0
    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
    Headley Way
    Headington
    Oxford OX3 9DU

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 (Fees and Miscellaneous Provisions), Regulations 2001, the maximum fee that can be charged for providing copies of health records held on computer is £10. The maximum charge for copies of manual records (held by us on paper, including photographs and x-rays), or a mixture of manual and computer records, is £50

Please be specific if possible about the dates of treatments for which you are requesting records.

Environmental Information Regulations were introduced in 2005. These enable similar access to environmental information, as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

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How to make a request under Freedom of Information

If you are unable to find what you are looking for here then please email foia@ouh.nhs.uk stating clearly the information that you would like.

You can also make a request in writing to:

  • Freedom of Information Lead
    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
    Level 3, Academic Centre
    John Radcliffe Hospital
    Headley Way
    Headington
    Oxford OX3 9DU

Disclosure logs

These documents provide details of information released by the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust as a result of requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

Charges

Access to Health Records

Photocopies of records

  • up to 300 pages, £25 including postage
  • up to 500 pages, £50 including postage
  • Tel: 01865 221516 / 221621 / 221856

Car parking

Freedom of Information requests

There is no charge for content available on this website, although any charges for internet service provider (ISP) and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual. For those without internet access, a single printout as on the website is available by post from the Freedom of Information Lead. We will not provide printouts of other organisations' websites.

Hospedia (formerly Patientline) offers access to media from the hospital bedside.

  • Leaflets and brochures
    No charge.
  • Glossy or other bound paper copies
    Charge to be advised upon request.
  • CD ROMs, videos or other media
    Charge to be advised upon request.
  • Emailed content
    Typically free of charge.
    Any costs will be advised upon request.

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, photocopying and postage etc.

We will require payment in advance of any Freedom of Information request that involves more than £450 worth of staff time.

We will advise you of the cost and any charges that will have to be paid in advance.

The charges will be reviewed regularly.

Overseas visitors

For further information contact the Overseas Visitor Administrator: 01865 741166

Radiology reports

A charge of £10 is made for reports on CD.
Tel: 01865 220825

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What we spend and how we spend it

We publish on our website details of all expenditure payments of £25,000 or more, in accordance with a Government committment to improve transparency in how public funds are used.

For invoices prior to the creation of the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, please use the links below.

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Feedback and complaints

Any questions, comments or complaints about how your request for information was handled should be sent to:

  • Megan Turmezei
    Assistant Director of Governance
    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
    Level 3, Academic Centre
    John Radcliffe Hospital
    Headley Way
    Headington
    Oxford OX3 9DU
  • Tel: 01865 220351
    Email: foia@ouh.nhs.uk

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