Freedom of information
The Freedom of Information Act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority.
All requests for information should be made in writing or email and sent to the Information Governance Team stating ‘Freedom of Information (FOI) request’. If you would like to request information under this Act you should provide us with your full name and contact address (either an email or postal address), a clear description of the information you want and the format you want to receive the information, such as by email or postal response. The types of information already available is detailed below along with what you can request.
Information Governance Team
North of England Commissioning Support
John Snow House
Durham University Science Park
Durham
DH1 3YG
Email: necsu.ICBfoi@nhs.net
Complaints and appeals
If you are not happy about the way we have handled your FOI request, please write in the first instance to:
Senior Governance Manager
North of England Commissioning Support
John Snow House
Durham University Science Park
Durham
DH1 3YG
Or email: necsu.ICBfoi@nhs.net
You can also contact the Information Commissioner's Office which is responsible for ensuring organisations comply with the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Telephone: 0303 123 1113
FOI guidance
What information can I obtain?
You can obtain information about the business processes of the ICB.
What information is already available?
The majority of corporate information is available through our Publication Scheme. This scheme is a complete guide to the information we routinely publish, such as Trust policies and annual reports.
Where can I see the Publication Scheme?
Visit the Publication Scheme page.
What other information can I request?
You can write to us and ask for information which is not in our Publication Scheme; however, there are certain exemptions listed in the Act. The exemptions mean we may not be able to supply all or part of the information requested. If possible, we will supply the information requested with the exempt information removed.
Can I get access to information about other patients or myself?
No, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 does not change the legal right of individuals to protection of their confidentiality. Maintaining this right of confidentiality is an important commitment for all NHS organisations. To help with this, the ICB have appointed a Caldicott Guardian who is responsible for protecting patient confidentiality within the organisation. You may ask to see your own health records under the Data Protection Act 2018.