Introduction 

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2000 gives rights of public access to information held by public authorities. Section 19 of the Act requires the PCT to adopt and maintain a publication scheme  and publish this “Guide to Information”.  

NHS North East Essex is committed to being open and transparent with its health community and the wider public. In the spirit of the Act, NHS North East Essex will publish information via this website wherever appropriate and practical, in accordance with the scheme’s seven classes listed below.    

Where members of the public require assistance, such as obtaining hard copies of information held in the scheme, please contact FOI@northeastessex.nhs.uk .  Where information is not included in the publication scheme, requests will be processed in accordance with the FOI Act, by our Freedom of Information Officer. Any charges for information will be made in accordance with the charging policy of NHS North East Essex . 

We process requests for information in accordance with the following policy and procedure documents:

 Freedom of Information Policy v3 NEE 179

 Freedom of Information Procedure v5 NEE177.

The seven information classes 

Class 1 - Who we are and what we do   
Organisational information, locations, contacts, constitutional and legal governance.   

Class 2 - What we spend and how we spend it  
Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering procurement and contracts.  

Class 3 - What our priorities are and how we are doing  
Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.  

Class 4 – How we make decisions 
Policy proposals and decisions,  decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.  

Class 5 – Our policies and procedures  
Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities.  

Class 6 – Lists and registers  
Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of NHS North East Essex.  

Class 7 – The services we offer  
Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered. 

For information not held within the publication scheme

Please send your requests to:

The Freedom of Information Officer
NHS North East Essex 
659-662 the Crescent
Colchester Business Park
Colchester
Essex CO4 9YQ

Telephone: 01206 288520                          
E-mail: FOI@northeastessex.nhs.uk  

Cost of information available from the publication scheme and the FOI Officer

Some information is available free, but for some there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available.

1.  Information downloadable from this website is free of charge, excluding any charges for Internet service provider and personal printing costs. 

2.  Single paper copies are free of charge and are available by contacting the relevant contact, who will be indicated alongside the information contained in the website, or by emailing FOI@northeastessex.nhs.uk .

3.  Multiple printouts and archived documents may attract a charge for retrieval, photocopying, postage, etc. We will let you know the cost and charges. NHS North East Essex will require payment in advance. 

4.  Leaflets and brochures produced by NHS North East Essex are free of charge.

5.  CD roms and videos are chargeable.

a) Charges

Under the Freedom of Information Act, NHS North East Essex may charge for providing information in response to a request, in two circumstances:

1.  If the required information costs NHS North East Essex more than £450 to gather and provide, then the 'real' cost of the work can be charged.  This amounts to £25 per hour of staff time.  Also see (b) below.

2. If the required information will cost NHS North East Essex less than £450 to gather, see (b) below, then disbursements may be charged for. These are charges for printing, photocopying, postage and supply of data in specified formats (e.g. on disc).  NHS North East Essex has established a minimum charge of £10.   If the cost of supplying information is less than £10, then no charge will be made. Charges are based on the following disbursement costs:

•  5p per A3 or A4 black and white photocopies.
•  10p per black and white A4 sheet, laser printed.
•  60p per colour A4 sheet, laser printed.
•  Floppy discs, 30p each.
•  CDs, 30p each.
•  Postage will be first-class mail rate plus 10% for packing.

Other disbursement charges could apply and these will be listed when notification of charges are sent. See (c) below:

(b) Threshold of £450

Under the Act, NHS North East Essex has the option to decline to provide information if the cost of gathering and providing that information would exceed the appropriate limit ie £450.  This is calculated at £25 per hour of staff time and therefore equates to 18 hours of time.  However, at the discretion of NHS North East Essex, a request can be considered if the applicant is prepared to pay the 'real' cost charge; see (a) above.

(c) Payment

If charges apply, as described in (a) and (b) above, then the applicant will be informed in writing.  This will include instructions on how to make payment.  The PCT may suspend processing the request until payment is received.  Cheques should be made payable  to 'North East Essex PCT' .

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