We are committed to providing clear and useful information to help you understand and access our services.
We follow the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. These laws give the public access to information held by public bodies, with some exceptions (like personal data). Their purpose is to promote transparency and accountability.
What is the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act?
The Freedom of Information Act makes public sector organisations accountable. It gives anyone the right to request information about public bodies, including the NHS.
As a member of the public, you have the right to know what your local NHS is doing, how we use the funding we receive, what services we provide, and how we meet our targets.
The Freedom of Information Act applies to England, Scotland, and Wales and is monitored by the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) (opens in a new tab).
The Publication Scheme
The ICO has created a Publication Scheme for health bodies to follow. This helps us organise the information we regularly share into seven categories.
How to make an FOI request
If you want to request information from CUH, start by checking our publication scheme (opens in a new tab).
To make a request, your message should be in writing. Include your name, contact details (like an email address), and a clear description of the information you're asking for.
You can make your request in these ways:
- Fill in our online form
- Ask clinical or support staff in person or by appointment
- Contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
- Reach out to a Governor, if you are a member of our NHS Foundation Trust
We aim to respond to all requests within 20 working days. We will inform you of any delays.
What can we share with you?
We will share information whenever possible. In some situations, we may need to withhold information. If we do this, we will explain which law allows us to do so and why.
How much will it cost me?
Information available on our website is free.
For requests under the Freedom of Information Act, the following charges may apply:
- If the cost of responding to your request is under £450 (covering the time to find and prepare the information), we will not charge a fee, but we may ask you to cover costs like postage or photocopying if they exceed £25.
- If your request costs more than £450 to process, we may charge a fee and will decide if we will proceed with the request.
Complaints
If you're unhappy with how your request was handled, you can follow our complaint procedure.
Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can assist you in making a complaint.
If you're still not satisfied after our response, you can appeal to the Information Commissioner's Office. (opens in a new tab)
Speak to our team
For more information, please get in touch with our FOI team:
Phone: