The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has always endeavoured 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. However, there is now legislation in place that requires the Trust to make even more of its business information accessible.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000 came fully into force on 1 January 2005. The 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.

The FOIA requires the Trust to make certain information, as detailed in its Publication Scheme, routinely available. The Trust complies with this requirement of the legislation by making such information accessible via this website. Where information is not automatically available, the Trust is obliged to consider any specific request for information in accordance with the legislation. Only in limited circumstances, where an exemption applies, can information be withheld in response to a specific request.

Where possible, the Trust will make information available free of charge. However, there are some circumstances in which a fee will be applied. In such instances, the Trust will inform the applicant of associated charges before supplying the information.

Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004

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

Requesting information

Requests to the Trust for specific information, or all other enquiries about accessing information from the Trust, should be directed to:

Information Governance Office
Northern Health and Social Care Trust
Causeway House
8e Coleraine Road
Ballymoney
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT53 6BP

Tel: 028 2766 1293
Fax: 028 2766 1215

Further information about the legislation can be found at www.ico.gov.uk.