Important information

What is the Freedom of Information Act  2000?

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities. The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.

The Act places two main duties on all public authorities, including NHS organisations:

    firstly, we are required to set up and maintain a Publication Scheme that tells you what information we hold
    secondly, the Act gives you the right to request information that we hold.  Unless an exemption under the Act applies, we have a duty to confirm whether or not the information exists and to provide it to you.

More information about the Act and how it is applied can be found from the website of theInformation Commissioner's Office (ICO).  The ICO is the UK's independent public body set up to promote access to official information and protect personal information by promoting good practice, ruling on eligible complaints, providing information to individuals and organisations and taking appropriate action when the law is broken.
Freedom of Information Act Publication Scheme

The Publication Scheme is a guide to the information routinely published by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. It is a description of the information about the Trust that is made publicly available. The Trust reviews the Scheme at regular intervals and monitors how it is operating.

The Publication Scheme helps individuals to find information which the Trust publishes. The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protection of their patient confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment by the Trust.

We routinely publish information in the following classes:

•     Who we are and what we do
•     What we spend and how we spend it
•     What are our priorities and how are we doing
•     How we make decisions
•     Our policies and procedures
•     Lists and registers
•     The services we offer

Alongside this we publish information in accordance with the Environmental Information Regulations:

•     Environmental Information

Our Publication Scheme is published as a series of web pages which can be accessed using the links above or the menu on the left.  For those without Internet access, a single printout from the website can be provided by post, by personal application to the Freedom of Information Officer at the Trust.
General Rights of Access to Information

The Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to request information held by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. The Freedom of Information Act covers corporate information (e.g. who we are and what we do). It does not cover personal information (e.g. about your individual care and treatment).

If you would like to request information from the Trust, you should first refer to the Publication Scheme (above) to see if the information is already available routinely.

If the information is not listed within our Publication Scheme then you can request it from the Trust.

For example:

•     you can request it by email: info@sath.nhs.uk
•     you can request it by post by writing to Freedom of Information Officer, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ

When you request information, unless an exemption applies:

•     we will confirm whether or not we hold the information you have requested
•     if we do hold the information, our aim is to provide this within 20 working days unless there is an exemption (for example, because we believe it would not be in the public interest to provide the information)
•     if we believe that an exemption applies, we will explain this to you.

If the information is refused:

•     if we do not supply the information that you have requested, then you can ask us to reconsider your request.  Please contact us using the contact details above, stating the reasons why you wish us to reconsider your request
•     you also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office, which is the national body overseeing implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in public authorities.

You can find out more information about your rights and responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act from the Information Commissioner's Office including a set of useful factsheets.
Cost of information

For the most part, the Trust will charge only for hard copies (to cover printing, photocopying and postage) or copying onto a different media (e.g. if we provide information on our website but you have requested this on DVD). Current photocopying costs are 25p per copy and postage is charged at cost.  Copying onto other media will incur a charge to cover material costs (e.g. DVD) and postage.

There may also be a charge if more than 2.5 days are spent in supporting a request for information.

You will be advised of any charges that apply, and payment will be required before your request for information can be considered further.
Specific and additional costs for access to information:

•     Website: Information from the Trust's website is free, although any charges you incur to gain access to the internet (e.g. Internet Service Provider and personal printing costs) will have to be met by you. For those without Internet access, a single printout from the website can be provided by post, by personal application to the Freedom of Information Officer at the Trust. Requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents which are no longer accessible or available on the web, will attract a charge for, photocopy and postage. The Trust will advise on cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. The Trust does not provide printouts of other organisation's websites.
•     Leaflets and brochures:  Single copies of the current editions of leaflets and brochures about the services we offer to the public are available free of charge.There may be a charge for certain bound or other paper documents (including the costs of printing, photocopying and postage mentioned above).  Where documents incur other charges this will normally be specified in our Public Scheme.
•     E-mail: The provision of information by email is free of charge unless stated to the contrary in our Publication Scheme.
•     Archive Deposit: Information falling into the Classes will be retained in line with the Trust's retention and disposal schedules, which comply with circular HSC1999/53 and Public Record Office Guidance.  Some of this information is not stored on Trust premises, and incurs a charge to the Trust if it is requested from the archive.  Where your request for information would incur such a charge, we will let you know before we proceed with your request.

Re-use of public sector information and copyright

Unless otherwise stated, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust owns the copyright in all material on this site and all documents and information provided under the Freedom of Information Act.

Subject to the following conditions, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust ("the Trust") has no objection to organisations:

•     downloading copyright-protected materials from the site (the 'Materials') and reproducing them in their own publications, or on their internal computer networks
•     reproducing other copyright-protected materials provided in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act in their own publications, or on their internal computer networks.

Organisations using the Trust's materials must adhere to the following criteria:

•     organisations must ensure that they are using the latest version of the Materials available
•     any publication or internal network which incorporates the Trust's Materials must include an acknowledgement of the source of such materials
•     the Material must be clearly separated from any comment made on it by the organisation or others
•     readers of the Material must not be given the impression that the Trust is responsible for, or has in any way approved, the publication or network in which our Materials are reproduced
•     the Materials may not be altered or amended unless such material is clearly marked as altered or amended by the organisation or others
•     any public sector body that holds the Trust materials may only charge for re-use of the Trust Materials in line with the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations (2005).   The public sector body may only charge the cost of collection, reproduction and dissemination of documents.  They may not make a 'reasonable return on investment'.  Organisations in receipt of the Trust's Materials that are not subject to Freedom of Information Act (2000) or Re-use of public sector information regulations (2005) may not charge a fee to third parties for either direct access (e.g. a cost per item for the purchase of materials) or indirect access to the Materials (e.g. where the materials are provided through a subscription service or other charged service to third parties).
•     when reproducing the Trust's Materials, organisations must have regard to any qualifying statements or descriptions attached to the Materials, (for example, descriptions such as 'consultation document', 'discussion paper', or 'preliminary view' are important as are statements concerning the audience at which the Material is directed)
•     if the Material is reproduced in full, or substantial extracts are reproduced, any qualifying statements attached to the Material must be included
•     any reproduction of the Trust's official forms, other than for the purpose of submitting information to the Trust, must be clearly marked 'SPECIMEN' unless otherwise expressly agreed by the Trust
•     there is no charge for the reproduction of Materials made in accordance with these conditions
•     where these conditions are met, organisations may share the Materials with other organisations on the condition that these other organisations are advised that they in turn must also adhere to these criteria.

The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 provide a framework for deciding issues relating to the re-use of information held by public bodies. Subject to the conditions set out above, the Trust has no objection to organisations reproducing in their own publications Materials available from this site or otherwise provided in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

In accordance with the Regulations recommendation of a asset list, the main documents available for re-use are listed in the Trust's publication scheme.

Where an organisation wishes to re-use the Trust's Materials but the proposed re-use would contravene any of the conditions set out above, the organisation should contact the Trust's Freedom of Information Officer to determine whether the proposed re-use would be permitted and what, of any, additional conditions may apply.

The application should be in writing, specifying name and address of the applicant, identifying the documents to be re-used and the purpose for re-use.

Complaints regarding the re-use of public sector information and copyright

The Trust has a procedure for dealing with complaints about the handling of a request for re-use of public sector information. If you are dissatisfied with how your application to re-use public sector information has been handled or any other aspect of how we have implemented the Reuse of Public Sector Information Regulations you can make a complaint in writing to the Freedom of Information Officer, The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury SY3 8XQ

Regulation 17 of the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 requires us to respond to a complaint within a reasonable time and we aim to do this within 20 working days. We will notify you in writing of the determination of the complaint, giving reasons for the decision taken.

If we have already investigated the complaint and you are unhappy with the outcome, you may refer your complaint to the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI). Further information about complaints under the PSI Regulations can be found on the OPSI website.

In accordance with Regulation 19 where an applicant has exhausted the internal complaints procedure, they may refer that complaint to the OPSI.
Data Protection Act 1998

This section of our website refers to your rights of access to corporate information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  If you would like to find out about your rights of access to your personal health records please visit our Access to Medical Records page.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (the Trust, Trust, SaTH, we or us) is committed to preserving the privacy of all visitors to this website. Please read the following privacy statement to understand how we use and protect the information that you provide to us.

By using this website, emailing the Trust and completing forms e.g. sign up to the Foundation Trust newsletter, E-Cards or feedback/contact us form on this website you consent to the collection, use and transfer of the information that you provide to us in accordance with the terms of this statement. You also consent to the Trust to contact you through email/telephone/text message/letter in response to your enquiry.

If you do not wish to be contacted by the Trust in response to your enquiry please let us know by stating this when you submit your personal information.

We reserve the rights to change the contents of this website, including this privacy statement at any time. by posting such changes on the website. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with this statement regularly to ensure that you are aware of any changes. Your continued use of the website following the posting of any such changes will constitute your acceptance of the revised privacy statement.

If you do not accept this privacy statement, you may not use this website.

Information collection

If you register with the website, or if you complete any form on the website, you may be asked to provide information about yourself (including your name and contact details)

We may also collect information about your usage of this website as you and others browse and use our website (see section on cookies and google analytics), as well as information about you from messages you post to the website and emails or letters you send to us.

Use of the information we collect

Your personal information will be used and shared for several general purposes including providing information that you have requested; handling your enquiries via the relevant department, personalising your experience on the website, providing access to some areas of the website and keeping you up to date with services which may be relevant to you.

We may also ask you to provide us with information including your views on the website regarding contact and functionality, the Freedom of Information request process (if appropriate) and the compliments and complaints process (if appropriate).

If you do not wish to be contacted by the Trust for information collection purposes please let us know by stating this when you submit your personal information.

Feedback/Contact Us forms

You may decide to fill in a Feedback/Contact Us Form on our website to gain information from the Trust. This Feedback/Contact Us Form cannot answer medical questions or give medical advice.

Please be aware that by submitting this form you are consenting to your personal information being passed on to the relevant department within the Trust.  You are also consenting to receiving emails from the Trust.

Data Retention 

The Trust will retain the personal information provided by you for as long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes listed in this statement.

Disclosure of information

The information you provide to us will be held on our computers, or the computers of one or more of our suppliers. The data we collect from you may be processed, in accordance with this privacy policy, by staff who work for us or one of our suppliers. By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing and processing.

We will also pass information on the usage of our website onto third parties, but this information and any information derived from it will only be used by that third party to analyse usage of the site.

We may disclose personal information in response to legal process, for example, in response to a court order. We may also disclose such information in response to a law enforcement agency’s request or where we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, non-compliance with our terms and conditions of use, or as otherwise permitted or required by law and consistent with legal requirements.

Cookies and Google Analytics

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small file that is sent from a website to your computer (or mobile device) when you visit a website. This file then helps us to see how we could change our site to meet your interests, as well as remembering your preferences and settings. Cookies can also help us to enhance your experience of our website as a user through additional features such as linking in with social networks and showing personalised content.

Why are cookies used?

By allowing cookies, we can use Google Analytics to see useful features such as which pages are the most popular, how people are navigating through the site and how users come across our site in the first place. This is something that is really helpful for us, as we can use this information to continuously develop and improve the way our site works.

How can I control my cookies?

For more information about cookies, and how you can disable them, please visit the Information Commissioner’s Office Cookies Page.

Accessing and updating your information

You are entitled to see a copy of the information that we have collected from you and that we maintain. If you wish to do this, please fill in our feedback/contact us form and state that this is a ‘subject access request’. We may charge a small fee to meet our costs in providing you with these details.

You may ask us to make changes to the information provided by you and/or held about you, to ensure that it is accurate and kept up to date. You may also request that we cease from processing your personal information and that we delete this from our database or records. Please note that it may be impossible to completely delete your information because of back-ups and records of deletions.

We will only perform the activities outlined above to the extent that such activities will not compromise privacy, security or any other legal interests.

Disclaimer

The Trust website gives general information about our hospitals and the services we provide. We cannot answer medical questions or give medical advice via this website, email or feedback form.  Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information on this website is accurate and complete The Trust cannot be held responsible for the site’s accuracy or for any loss, damage or expense that might be caused by any action or lack of action taken on the basis of the information provided on the site or for any loss suffered due to reliance on that information.  We cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to this website or the sites to which it links.  We accept no responsibility for any damages arising from the loss of use of this information.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure. Although we employ security measures to protect the information provided by you, the Trust cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to our site and any transmission is at your own risk. Once we have received your information, we will use appropriate security procedures and features aimed at preventing any unauthorised access, unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage.

Copyright 

All information on this website is the copyright of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust except where stated otherwise.

Visitors to this website are granted permission to access the Trust’s copyright material.

The written material on this website may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium for research, private study or for internal circulation within an organisation provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context.

Where any of the Trust copyright items are republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged. For example, by stating “Copyright The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust” with a link to the source page.

The permission to reproduce the Trust copyright protected material does not extend to any material on this site which is identified as being the copyright of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

Links to external sites

This website contains links to other websites. This privacy statement applies only to this website, so when you are moving to another site which collects personal information you should always read the privacy policy relating to that website.

For the avoidance of doubt, we do not pass on any personal information you have given us to any other website operators.

The Trust only links to other websites who are either partner organisations such as Primary Care Trusts or Local Authorities, other formal partnerships such as validated charitable organisations, or organisations that have been validated by the clinical department e.g. the organisation provides part of the care pathway for our patients.

The Trust is not responsible for the contents or reliability of the linked web sites and does not necessarily endorse the views expressed within them. Listing should not be taken as endorsement of any kind. We cannot guarantee that these links will work all of the time and we have no control over the availability of the linked pages.

You do not have to ask permission to link to pages hosted on this website. However, we do not permit our pages to be loaded into frames. The pages must load into the user’s entire window. You are not permitted to use the NHS logo without prior permission.

Contact us

For all comments, queries and other requests relating to our use of your information, please fill in our feedback/contact us or notify us in writing by contacting the Communications Office, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, Mytton Oak Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8XQ.

We are committed to making the information we publish on the Internet accessible to as many users as possible. All our pages are designed to work across different platforms, screen sizes and browsers. They are printer friendly and have been designed to work with assistive technologies. If you experience any difficulties with a page on our site please contact us and provide us with information such as the address of the page (URL), the platform you are running (such as Windows XP), and the name and version of your browser.

To the best of our knowledge, pages comply with all Priority 1 checkpoints of the W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0).
Contact Us

Our website is constantly under development and we are always looking for ways to improve the site. We value your opinion and would love to hear from you so if you have any comments or suggestions please contact us.

What are cookies and why do we use them?

We use cookies to enhance your experience using our website, as almost all websites do today. Cookies are small text files that store information on your computer for a variety of functions.

We use cookies to:

• Keep the website running as you'd expect (for example keeping you logged in as you browse different webpages)
• Remember which pages you like the best, so we can show you personalised content.
• Let you share things you like on your social networks.
• Store some of your details, such as your log in details (but only if you want us to!)

Cookies also help us evaluate our website. Knowing visitor levels, what device our visitors are using, which pages people like the best, social networks shares and how people have found us (search engines and links for example) helps us to make the website better for us and for you!

We will never use cookies to:

• Store your personal information (unless you want us to, for example your login details so you don't have to re-enter them each time you visit the site.)
• Pass on your information to third parties.

Types of cookies and what we each one for:

• First Party: These are cookies set by us and only usable by us. They are the ones that keep you logged in during a browsing session.
• Third Party: These are cookies set by third parties that we use. The only third party cookies we use are for evaluating our website (we use Google Analytics for this), and those that allow you to share things on your social media sites.
• Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. These are the ones that keep you logged in as you browse from page to page.
• Persistent Cookies: These are stored on your device for a fixed period of time. We use this to remember your preferences to show you personalized content and offers, as well as remembering your log in or payment details for your next visit, if you specifically tell us you want us to.

If you still don't want us to use cookies, that's fine. Here's some information on how to disable them:

• Mozilla Firefox: Click 'Tools' at the top left of your Firefox window. Then click 'Options' and a smaller window should pop up. Click the 'Privacy' tab, and choose 'use custom settings for history' from the drop down box. Then you can uncheck the 'Accept cookies from sites' box to remove all cookies, or 'Accept third-party cookies' to just remove third party cookies. You can also choose to delete cookies every time you close firefox, or make it so you approve every cookie as they are about to be used by a site by keeping the 'accept cookies' box checked and choosing 'I close firefox' or 'ask me every time' in the 'Keep until:' drop down box.
• Safari: In Safari 5.0 or earlier, click 'Preferences', 'Security' and then 'Accept cookies'. There you will get the option to block all cookies, accept all cookies, or accept cookies just from sites you go to regularly. In Safari 5.1 or later, click 'Preferences' and 'Privacy', where you can choose to allow or block all cookies, or to block cookies from third parties and advertisers.
• Internet Explorer: Click 'Tools' at the top left of your Explorer window. Then Click 'Internet Options' and a smaller window should pop up. Click the 'Privacy' tab at the top, and the settings slider allows you to choose the level of privacy you want. Clicking at the various intervals tells you what that level of privacy does for you. For example, the highest level of protection will block all cookies.
• Google Chrome: Click the spanner icon on the main toolbar, then choose 'options' and then 'under the hood'. Click on the 'Privacy' option, and then 'content settings'. Clicking on 'cookies' will give you options to; delete all cookies, block all cookies, allow all cookies or to set preferences for different websites.