freedom of information.co.uk

April 5th 2005

Clinical performance is the most common subject of NHS freedom of information requests, according to a survey published today.  The first independent snapshot of FOI within the NHS, the study - carried out in conjunction with Freedomofinformation.co.uk - reveals that the vast majority of NHS bodies are coping well with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), with all but a tiny handful of the requests dealt with within the statutory 20-day limit. 

66 NHS organisations, took part in the survey, including acute hospital trusts, PCTs and health authorities.   In the six weeks after the FOIA’s introduction they received a total of 404 requests, of which 155 concerned clinical performance and other medical matters.  The next most commonly requested subject was financial data (80), followed by contracted out services (34), and major incidents and events (33). 

The general public made the most requests (149), followed, in order, by the media (132) business (74), and campaign groups (17.)  50 of the 66 organisations reported receiving less than ten requests during the six-week period, with 55 managing to respond to all the requests within the 20-day limit.

The overwhelming majority of respondents said answering information requests took up less than 20 staff hours per week. However, if, as is generally predicted, the number of requests increases some organisations may struggle.  Just over half (34) reported that they had no dedicated reporting scheme for tracking FOI requests, and only eight out of 66 said they had a document management solution for managing their publication schemes. 

Although the FOI Act has generated many headlines in recent weeks, only two respondents reported that information released under the Act has resulted in media coverage. 

The survey was conducted by IT firm Harlequin Solutions and designed by freedomofinformation.co.uk.  Commenting on the survey, Managing Director of Harlequin Solution, Subhas Patel, said, ‘We were surprised at how many organisations had not implemented a tracking system for FOI requests. Although the number of requests is currently manageable a system will become essential once awareness and the number of requests increases.’  Editor of freedomofinformation.co.uk, John Ashton, said, ‘It’s encouraging that most organisations have been able to cope with the FOIA, but, as usage of the Act increases, all public bodies must ensure that their systems remain up to scratch.’

Harlequin Solutions provides knowledge management applications for the NHS, central and local government, and education providers.  Freedomofinformation.co.uk is run by training and research consultancy Freedom of Information Ltd. 

Under the FOI Act public authorities are obliged to release information both proactively via their publication schemes and in response to individual information requests.

Full survey results (pdf file.)