Information Governance is part of the East Lancashire Primary Care Informatics Unit based at Cobham House, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB1 2EE, covering all issues relating to Information Security.
Addendum to all policies.
With the formation of the NHS Lancashire Cluster, the reporting structure contained within the policies may change to reflect developing reporting mechanisms as the Cluster Executive Team and Cluster Board are now the responsible body.
The NHS Accountable Officer is also at Cluster level and not at individual PCT level.
These comments should be borne in mind and acted upon accordingly when following these policies.
What is Information Governance?
Information Governance is responsible for ensuring that compliance to the issues of confidentiality in whatever form are addressed and supplying guidance and advise to the Primary Care Trust at all levels. To support this aim there is an East Lancashire Information Governance Steering Group, chaired by the Information Governance Manager on which all East Lancashire Primary Care Trusts are represented; the group ensures a focal point to address issues relating to confidentiality.
Information Governance also provides guidance in relation to The Caldicott Guardian, Overarching Sharing Information agreements and Single Access Point agreements.
Should you have any issues around confidentiality in any form or seek advise then please:-
Telephone: 01254 226840 or email: information.governance@bwd.nhs.uk
Freedom of Information - Brief Guidance
Freedom of information requests can be made by anyone to any member of the PCT. This could be requesting information regarding the running of the Trust. Once the request is made then it should be passed immediately to the Freedom of Information Administrator (FOIA) via the FOI inbox (foi@bwd.nhs.uk). This enables the PCT to respond as promptly as possible within the 20 working days time-scale.
Whilst the Act says the request must be in writing, we do how ever have a duty of care to assist people under the Act if required, for example writing the request for them. Also bear in mind that the request may fall under Environmental Information Regulations in which the request does NOT have to be in writing.
All requests must be treated as if the PCT holds the information and not decided by individual members of staff and therefore forwarded to the FOIA as soon as possible. The FOIA will decide whether the request is applicable, if there is to be a charge and if the subject of the request can be made. To see full PCT Policy on this subject download the appropriate document from the list below.
Environmental Information Regulation - Brief Guidance
Environmental Information Regulation requests are almost the same as Freedom of Information requests and can be very difficult to distinguish, however they do not have to be in writing and have to be forwarded to the Freedom of Information Administrator as soon as possible again there is a 20-day time limit. The procedure to be followed is the same as freedom of information.
Subject Access- Brief Guidance
Subject Access Requests can be made verbally or in writing, from anyone who wishes personal information to be disclosed, this may not be relating to the person making the request, under certain circumstances. There is a maximum fee of £10 unless medical records are involved. This request should be forwarded to the Freedom of Information Administrator as soon as possible. The PCT aims to respond as promptly as possible, however in exceptional cases this may take longer. The PCT has upto 40 calendar days to comply with the request starting from when we have all the information necessary to deal with the request and any fee that is required. To see the full PCT Policy on Subject Access download the appropriate document from the list below.
NHS Lancashire
Please note that some Information Governance policies also have overarching policies adopted from NHS Lancashire that must be adhered to alongside the current NHS BwD CTP policies. You can find these policies here >>>
