Access to Trust business information (FOI and EIR)

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust continuously endeavours to make information available to its services users, staff and the public at large, to help them understand the nature of the Trust’s business and how it operates.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) provides the public with a general right of access to information held by all public authorities, including health and social care organisations like the Northern Trust . It requires the Trust to make relevant business information accessible and makes it easier for you to get information about us without having to ask. The Trust complies with this legislative requirement by making such information available on this website. This is known as the ‘Publication Scheme’ duty and includes information in respect of the Trust Board, Trust finances, corporate plans and strategies.

The Northern Trust is legally committed to providing timely and accessible information to the public and responding to reasonable requests for information. The Trust publishes responses to Freedom of Information and Environmental Information requests under our ‘Disclosure Log’. Each disclosure listed will have a brief description of the request and a link to our response.

If there is information you require which is not available on our website, you may ask the Trust for it in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA)

Making a Freedom of Information (FOI) Request

All you have to do is submit your request to the Information Governance Department which is responsible for dealing with FOI enquiries that the Trust receives.

There are a number of ways that you submit an FOI request.

1. Complete the FOI Online request form
2. Apply by letter or email to the Information Governance Department

Information Governance Department
8E Coleraine Road
Ballymoney
County Antrim
BT53 6BP
Email: info.governance@northerntrust.hscni.net

Before submitting your request, please review our FOI Disclosure Log, as the information may already be available.

What happens when we receive your FOI request?

On receipt of your written request, we may need to contact you to seek clarity on the information you are requesting. Please remember to provide your contact details so that we can reply to your request.

On receipt of your request, we have 20 working days to respond. Working days are Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.

There is currently no charge for a Freedom of Information request. However, there are some circumstances in which a fee will be applied. In such instances, the Trust will inform the applicant of any associated charges before supplying the information.

Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR)

Environmental information falls under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), rather than the FOIA.

The Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004 came fully into force on 1 January 2005, and it gives the public particular rights of access to environmental information held by the Trust.

Making an Environmental Information (EIR) Request

There are a number of ways that you submit an EIR request.

1. Complete the FOI Online request form
2. Apply by letter or email to the Information Governance Department

Information Governance Department
8E Coleraine Road
Ballymoney
County Antrim
BT53 6BP
Email: info.governance@northerntrust.hscni.net

Before submitting your request, please review our Disclosure Log, as the information may already be available.

What happens when we receive your EIR request?

On receipt of your written request, we may need to contact you to seek clarity on the information you are requesting. Please remember to provide your contact details so that we can reply to your request.

On receipt of your request we have 20 working days to respond. Working days are Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.

There is currently no charge for an Environmental Information request. However, there are some circumstances in which a fee will be applied. In such instances, the Trust will inform the applicant of any associated charges before supplying the information.

Media requests

The Corporate Communications Department provides a point of contact for all media enquiries – email press.office@northerntrust.hscni.net.