About freedom of information (FOI)

The Freedom of Information Act came into force on 1 January 2005. The Act deals with access to official information, while parallel regulations deal with environmental information.

The Act provides individuals or organisations with the right to request information held by a public authority. These requests must be made in writing, either by letter or by email. For Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust letters should be sent to:

Email: SFT.FreedomofInformation@nhs.net

Published information on our website

In order to keep requests to a minimum the Trust automatically publishes a wide range of information on its web-site. In the first instance please search for the information you are looking for on this website. To assist you in finding the information you require we have prepared a list of items in the form of a Publication Scheme

If you cannot find the information you need

If you are unable to find the information you are looking for then, following receipt of your written request, we will tell you if the information is held and will normally supply it within 20 working days in the format requested. However, under the following circumstances, the Trust does not have to confirm or deny the existence of the information:

• if an exemption applies
• if the request is vexatious or similar to a previous request
• if the cost of compliance exceeds an appropriate limit

Should any of these cases apply the Trust will advise you in writing.

If you are dissatisfied with our response

If you are unhappy with a refusal to disclose information you should firstly complain to the Trust. If you continue to be dissatisfied with the response you can then appeal to the Information Commissioner who will investigate the case and either agree with the Trust's decision or decide that the information must be disclosed.

Information Commissioner:

Telephone number: 0303 123 1113 

Patient confidentiality

Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part.

Under the Data Protection Act 2018 you are entitled to access your own clinical records and you can do this by setting out the information you want in writing to:

Questions, comments or complaints

Any questions, comments or complaints about the way in which the Trust publishes information and responds to requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act should be sent in writing to the Chief Executive, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ