Terms of Use
Privacy Policy

Data Protection Act 1998
Freedom of Information
Disability Equality Scheme

Freedom of Information

PART ONE: Introduction

• What our Publication Scheme is
Our Publication Scheme is a complete guide to the information routinely published by the National Blood Authority. It is a description of the information about the National Blood Authority, which we make publicly available. We will review the Scheme at regular intervals and monitor how it is operating. It is important to us that this Scheme meets your needs and we have designed it to be a route map so that you can easily find information about the National Blood Authority. Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the National Blood Authority has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of National Blood Authority information. The purpose of the Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities (of which the National Blood Authority is one).

The Publication Scheme will help you to find all the information, which the National Blood Authority publishes. The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients and/or donors to protection of their confidentiality in accordance with the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and at common law. Maintaining the legal right to donor and patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part.

• Information Management
Information falling into the Classes will be retained in line with the National Blood Authority’s retention and disposal schedules, which comply with circular HSC1999/53 and Public Record Office Guidance (website addresses to enable access to these documents are given in Part Three of our Publication Scheme).

Information not required for the business purposes of the National Blood Authority is stored at a place of deposit approved by the Lord Chancellor for the purpose of holding public records

• Feedback

Any questions, comments or complaints about this Scheme itself, or how the National Blood Authority has dealt with your request for information, should be sent in writing (electronic or hard copy) to:

Head of Service Quality
National Blood Service
Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5BG
E-mail foi.complaints@nbs.nhs.uk
Rights of Access to Information

At the present time, in addition to accessing the information identified in this Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about the National Blood Authority under the NHS Openness Code 1995. The Website address to this code is available in Part 3 of the Scheme.

• Sometimes, some or all of the information identified cannot be provided and we will explain the reasons why not, when this happens.

• The Freedom of Information Act recognises that as a member of the public, you have the right to know how public services such as the NHS are organised and run, how much they cost and how you can make suggestions or complaints. You have the right to know which services are being provided, the targets that are being set, the standards of services that are expected and the results achieved.

• From January 1st 2005 the Act will also oblige the National Blood Authority to respond to requests about the information which it holds and is recorded in any form and it will create a right of access to that information. The right to request and access this information are subject to some exemptions which the National Blood Authority has to take into consideration before deciding what information can be released.

• Information will be provided in the language it was originally produced in.

• Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are also entitled to access your records or any other personal information held about you; any such request should be made to:
Data Protection Manager
National Blood service
Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5BG
E-mail info.officer@nbs.nhs.uk

• New Environmental Information Regulations will enable similar access to environmental information, as under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, therefore, requests for information under these Regulations should be made to the Information Manager at the above address.


Cost of Information

For the most part, we will charge you only for hard copies or copying onto media (e.g. CD ROM). Some information is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available. Charges are as follows:

a) Via the National Blood Authority’s website – free of charge, although charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual.

For those without Internet access, a single print-out, as on the website, would be available by post from:
Information Manager
National Blood Service
Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5BG
E-mail: foi@nbs.nhs.uk

or by personal application at this address.

However, requests for multiple printouts, or for copies of archived documents no longer available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisations’ websites.

b) Leaflets and brochures - free of charge for current leaflets available to the public.

c) “Glossy” or other bound paper copies, or in some cases a CD Rom, video or other mediums, may attract a charge as detailed in our publication lists available from:

Information Manager
National Blood Service
Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5BG
E-mail: foi@nbs.nhs.uk

d) e-mail - will be free of charge unless otherwise stated.

The charges will be reviewed regularly.



Copyright

Any material available through our Publication Scheme which is subject to the National Blood Authority's copyright may be produced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading manner. In addition, if it is being republished or copied to others, you must identify the source of that material and acknowledge the copyright status. This permission to reproduce material does not extend to any material accessed through our Publication Scheme that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the third party owner of the copyright. For HMSO Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues, see the HMSO web site:

www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm

or contact:

HMSO Licensing Division,
St Clements House,
2-16 Colegate,
Norwich,
NR31BQ,
Tel: 01603 621000,
Fax: 01603 723000,




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