Introduction
This publication scheme is a complete
guide to the information routinely published by Royal Berkshire NHS
Foundation Trust. It is a description of the information about our
Trust which we make publicly available. We will 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 guide so that you
can find information about Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
easily.
Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000, the Trust has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a
publication scheme for the publication of Trust information. The
purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public
bodies.
The publication scheme will help you to find
all the information which the Trust 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. To help with this, we have appointed someone - a Caldicott
Guardian - who has the responsibility to ensure the protection
of patient confidentiality throughout the Trust. In the Royal
Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, our Caldicott Guardian is:
Mr Alistair Flowerdew
Medical Director
Royal Berkshire Hospital - Level 4, Main Entrance
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
Information management
Information falling into the classes will be
retained in line with the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust's
retention and disposal schedules, which complies with circular
HSC1999/053 and Public Record Office guidance.
Information, which is not required for the
business purposes of the Trust, is stored at the Trust or at a
place of deposit approved by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of
holding public records.
Feedback
Any questions, comments or complaints about
this scheme should be sent in writing to:
Keith Eales
Director of Corporate Affairs
Royal Berkshire Hospital - Level 4, Main Entrance
Craven Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
Rights of access to information
At the present time, in addition to accessing
the information identified in this publication scheme, you are
entitled to request information about the Royal Berkshire NHS
Foundation Trust under the NHS Openness Code 1995. A link to this
is available in Part 3 of the scheme and hard copies are available
free of charge from:
Department of Health
DOH Publications
PO Box 777
London
SE1 6XH
Sometimes, some or all of the information
cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why not when and
if this happens.
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.
From January 1st 2005 the Act obliged the
Trust to respond to requests about the information which it holds
and is recorded in any form and created a right of access to
that information. The rights to request and access this information
are subject to some exemptions which the Trust has to take into
consideration before deciding what information can be released.
Patient medical records
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 contact:
The Supervisor
Medical Records Department
North Wing
Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road
Reading
Rg1 5AN
Further information on patient medical records
Useful Contacts
Mr Alistair Flowerdew
(Chief Medical Officer)
Keith Eales
(Director of Corporate Affairs)
Royal Berkshire Hospital Foundation
Trust
London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
0118 322 5111
foi@royalberkshire.nhs.uk