NHS Database FOI query request

The request was successful.

David Fanshaw

Dear Department of Health,

I was more than a little surprised to see the recently posted FOI query from V Dacey concerning the new NHS database. Opting out would seem the sensible option in light of this!

That aside I would be most interested to see copies of all emails that have been received by the DoH or sent by the DoH in relation to that query as well as all internal emails between staff at the DoH that relate to the query.

Please do not include in this request the emails sent by you to V Dacey or received by you from her as that would be unnecessary duplication (they have already been posted on line) and I don't want to put you to too much trouble.

Happy for you to redact email addresses and personal information as needs be.

Hope you can accommodate this request

Yours faithfully,

David Fanshaw

Department of Health and Social Care

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If your enquiry is about a medical matter, please contact NHS Direct on
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For general health information you may also find it helpful to refer to
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References

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Dr Neil Bhatia left an annotation ()

Opting out is indeed a very wise move.

You can opt in at any time in the future - if and when YOU want, and perhaps only when the very real issues surrounding widespread access, consent and control (or lack thereof) about what exactly is uploaded about you is sorted, if ever.

Lots of information about the NHS Database / Summary Care Record can be found on my site:

www.summarycarerecord.info

Richard Taylor left an annotation ()

The FOI request by V Dacey referred to in the request can be seen at:

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/nh...

Department of Health and Social Care

7 Attachments

Our ref: DE503337

12 May 2010

Dear Mr Fanshaw

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request dated 5 May. You wrote:

I was more than a little surprised to see the recently posted FOI query
from V Dacey concerning the new NHS database. Opting out would seem the
sensible option in light of this!

That aside I would be most interested to see copies of all emails that
have been received by the DoH or sent by the DoH in relation to that
query as well as all internal emails between staff at the DoH that
relate to the query.

Please do not include in this request the emails sent by you to V Dacey
or received by you from her as that would be unnecessary duplication
(they have already been posted on line) and I don't want to put you to
too much trouble.

Happy for you to redact email addresses and personal information as
needs be.

In response to your request, I attach the following documents:

1. DE503337 - initial case correspondence: emails relating to the original
request of 16 March
2. DE503337 - internal review correspondence: emails relating to the
internal review request of 16 April
3. IR494463 v1, 2, 3 and 4: four draft versions of the response to the
internal review request
4. IR494463 Dacey Q12 Appendix: the document supplied in answer to
question 12 of the internal review

Personal information has been withheld in accordance with section 40(2) of
the FOIA. Section 40(2) relates to the personal data of living
individuals, the release of which would be in breach of the Data
Protection Principles set out under the Data Protection Act. Under the
guidance issued by the Information

Commissioner's Office (ICO) , we consider that this applies to contact
details, an applicant's personal information, and also to the names of
junior civil servants (i.e. officials on Grade 6 and below). However, for
the purpose of this request, Graeme Tunbridge, as the Head of the FOI Team
(a Grade 6 post), has waived his right to anonymity under section 40.

I hope that this information is helpful. If you are unhappy with the
service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a
complaint or request a review of our decision, you should write to:

Head of the Freedom of Information Team
Department of Health
Room 317
Richmond House
79 Whitehall,
London
SW1A 2NS

Email: [email address]

If you are not content with the outcome your complaint, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for a decision.
Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the
complaints procedure provided by the Department. The Information
Commissioner can be contacted at:

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

Yours sincerely

Lynn Swyny
FOI Case Manager
Department of Health

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Communications via the GSi may be automatically logged, monitored and/or
recorded for legal purposes.