The Freedom of Information Act was passed on 30 November 2000.  It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, with full access granted in January 2005.  The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.  Read the full Act.

Freedom of Information replaces the open Government Code of Practice, which was in operation from 1994. For further information, visit the NHS Freedom of Information website.  Information is also available on the Information Commissioner’s website.

The Freedom of Information Act came into full force on 1 January 2005.  NHS Brent will reply to any written request for information.  We will respond by saying whether we hold the information and, if we do, we will provide it within 20 working days.  There are some exemptions to the type of information that can be provides under the act.  For example, we will still need to keep patients’ personal information confidential.

The Information Commissioner, an independent public official, will monitor the implementation of the act.

Making a FOI request

NHS Brent has adopted the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme.  Our Guide to Information tells you how you can access the information we publish. We plan to update the guide as and when information becomes available for publication.

If the information you need is not there you can also contact us to request information under the FOI Act. Please email your requests to foi@brentpct.nhs.uk  or write to

Freedom of Information
NHS Brent
Wembley Centre for Health and Care
116 Chaplin Road
Wembley, London HA0 4UZ 

Unhappy with our response?

If you are unhappy with a response you receive from us to a FOI request please let us know, giving your reasons. We will respond to you in writing.  If you remain dissatisfied following this you can contact the Information Commissioner at the address below:

The Information Commissioner
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF

Details of our full FOI complaints policy are here.