Making an FOI Request

The Access to Information Team handles all requests for information. This information can be split into categories, dealt with by one of the following:

• Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Access to Health Records Act 1990
• Freedom of Information requests

The Freedom of Information Act (2000) gives members of the public the right to request information from public authorities. The aim of the Act is to promote greater openness and transparency.

• the request must be in writing – this can be either hand written or in the form of an email
• the request must include a name for the person making the request
• the request must contain an address/contact details for the person making the request
• the request must describe exactly what information is required. Help will be offered in refining any queries to make them comply with this criteria
• you do not need to be a United Kingdom national or resident to make a request

What we will provide in order to help you

We have a duty to provide advice and assistance to people submitting a request for information. Help will be offered in refining queries to ensure requests comply with the required criteria. This help includes:

• the provision of a Publication Scheme that is made widely available and kept up to date
• staff providing advice and assistance to members of the public who are seeking to make an individual right of access request
• the availability of a complaints procedure for individuals who feel that they have been dealt with unfairly
• dealing with individual right of access requests within 20 working days (upon receipt of payment were applicable) or to otherwise keep the individual informed of possible reasons for delay
• a duty to ‘confirm or deny’ the existence of information held (unless to do so would contravene an exemption)
• a duty to advise the reasoning behind a decision by the Trust not to release information that has been requested (unless this reasoning itself is subject to an exemption)

How to make a Subject Access Request (SAR) under Data Protection Act 1998 or the Access to Health Records Act 1990

Requests to view your own health records or health records belonging to an individual for whom you have responsibility should be made in writing to:

Access to Information Office
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Prescot Street
Liverpool
L7 8XP

Email the Access to Information Office

0151 706 2681 / 3232

You can use our Patient Access Form and Cover Letter to help you make a request. You can download these documents in Word or pdf format using the links below:

• New Patient Access Application form word doc

• New Patient Access Application form pdf

• Cover letter including costs to living patient word doc

• Cover letter including costs to living patient pdf

• Cover Letter including costs to deceased patient word doc

• Cover Letter including costs to deceased patient pdf

Alternatively use the contact form below if you have any further questions.

More information about applications and costs

To find out more about making applications, and costs associated, under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Access to Health Records Act 1990 or the Freedom of Information Act, please click here.

The material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust’s copyright, unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated on the material to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading manner. Where any of the copyright items in this Scheme are being re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source of the material and acknowledge the copyright status. Permission to reproduce material does not extend to any material accessed through the Publication Scheme that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holders concerned. For HMSO Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues please visit the HMSO website or contact them using the details below:

HMSO Licensing Division
St Clements House
2-16 Colegate
Norwich
NR3 1BQ

01603 621000
01603 723000

Additional information

In accordance with the NHS Care Record Guarantee it is our commitment that we will use records about you in ways that respect your rights and promote your health and well-being.

When we receive a request from you in writing, we must normally give you access to everything we have recorded about you. We may not give you confidential information about other people, or information that a health professional considers likely to cause serious harm to the physical or mental health of you or someone else. This applies to paper and electronic records. However, if you ask us to, we will let other people see health records about you. For more detailed information about this please visit the website of the National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care.