Freedom of Information (FOI)

We routinely publish a range of information on our website - please see the various sections within About us or search the website to check whether the information you require is already published.

Requests for copies of patient records

We cannot provide copies of medical records in response to an FOI request.

Instead, you need to make a Subject Access Request - please see Health records.

Requests for information not routinely available

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and recommendations by the Information Commissioner's Office anyone can request information which we hold.

We aim to provide you with the information requested within 20 working days. If this is not possible we will let you know why.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

If your request relates to COVID-19, please note that NHS England publishes hospital activity data including the number of patients:

In hospital with COVID-19 including those in mechanical ventilation
Admitted to hospital with COVID-19
Diagnosed in hospital with COVID-19, and
Discharged from hospital

To access this information, please see the NHS England website: COVID-19 Hospital Activity.

Statistics relating to deaths, including those which take place in hospitals, are also reported daily - please see the NHS England Website: COVID-19 Daily Deaths.

How to make a request

Please make your request by email gwh.foi@nhs.net or by post to:

Freedom of Information Lead
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Great Western Hospital
Marlborough Road
Swindon
SN3 6BB

Please be clear about what you want

Please be specific about the information you need, including dates and time periods. Requests for "everything you have" about a subject will mean that we have to contact you to clarify your request.

Is it too big a request?

If it will cost us more than £450 to deal with your request, we do not have to provide the information.

Factors we will take into account in deciding whether a request is too big are the time and resources involved in:

Checking whether the information is held
Locating the information or documects containing the information
Retrieving such information or documents
Extracting information from documents.

You may therefore be asked to clarify your request to reduce the amount of information required.

Re-use of Trust information

If you are seeking to re-use information held by the Trust, e.g. by publishing it on your own website for commercial gain, you will need to apply to the Trust for a licence.

There is normally a charge for such re-use of Trust information.

The amount will depend on the information and the duration of the licence.

If you are dissatisfied with our response

If you are unhappy with a refusal to disclose information you should firstly complain to the Trust.

If you continue to be dissatisfied with the response you can then appeal to the Information Commissioner who will investigate the case and either agree with the Trust's decision or decide that the information must be disclosed.

The address for the Information Commissioner is:

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Questions, comments or complaints

Any questions, comments or complaints about the way in which the Trust publishes information and responses to requests under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, should be sent in writing to the:

Chief Executive
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Great Western Hospital
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN3 6BB

If you are still dissatisfied with our response

If you are unhappy with a refusal to disclose information you should firstly complain to the Trust (please see above).