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Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, every public authority has a duty to specify what information they publish, how the information is made available and whether it is free or if there is a charge.

Our publication scheme explains what information we provide to the public and, where possible, we will make it it easy for you to access. The information is classed into seven categories.

Who we are and what we do

  1. how we fit into the NHS structure  – see About Us
  2. organisational structure – download our organisational structure chart
  3. list of, and information relating to, organisations with which the authority works in partnership –
  4. senior staff and management board members – download our organisational structure chart  or see Trust Board page
  5. location and contact details for all public facing departments – see A-Z Services and A-Z Wards pages

 

What we spend and how we spend it

  1. annual statement of accounts – see our Publications page
  2. budgets and variance reports – see the board meeting minutes page for our monthly finance reports
  3. financial audit reports – see our Publications page for our latest Annual Report
  4. Standing Financial Instructions – download our standing orders document and Reservation of Powers and Scheme of Delegation document
  5. capital programme – see our board meeting minutes for the latest financial reports
  6. staff pay and grading structures – visit the NHS Employers Agenda for Change pay scales
  7. funding (including endowment funds) – view the tendering procedures, details of tenders and contracts awarded
  8. our expenditure – see our Finance page for payments to suppliers over £25,000

What are our priorities and how are we doing

  1. reports and business planning – see the latest Annual General Meeting presentation slides, our Publications pagemonthly Board meeting reports and latest service developments
  2. our performance – see our monthly board papers, our Quality Story page and Annual Reports
  3. declarations of compliance – read our Quality Accounts 
  4. audit reports – available in the monthly Board meeting papers or read our Publications page

How we make decisions

To see how we make and record decisions:

  1. view our monthly Board papers 
  2. join our patient and public membership scheme to have a greater say on how your local hospitals are run
  3. view our Patient and public engagement page to see what public consultations on our services, if any, are currently running

Our policies and procedures

Specific policies and procedures are available on request. Please contact us to request a policy or procedure at:

Freedom of Information Officer
Trust Headquarters
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Hermitage Lane
Kent
ME16 9QQ

Or via email at mtw-tr.foiadmin@nhs.net

Lists and registers

Please email our Freedom of Information Officer at mtw-tr.foiadmin@nhs.net or write to us at:

Freedom of Information Officer
Trust Headquarters
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Hermitage Lane
Kent, ME16 9QQ

 

The services we offer

  1. clinical and non-clinical services provided and/or commissioned – see our A-Z of services page
  2. patient information leaflets and other booklets and newsletters – where appropriate, patient information leaflets can be downloaded from specific services pages
  3. Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) – see the PALS page for more information
  4. advice and guidance – see our PALS page or making a complaint page
  5. corporate communications and media releases – read the latest news from our Trust page

Patient confidentiality

The Freedom of Information Act does not change the right of patients to protect their patient confidentiality in accordance with Article 8 of the Human Rights Convention, the Data Protection Act and at common law. Maintaining the legal right to patient confidentiality continues to be an important commitment on our part. To help with this, we have appointed a Caldicott Guardian who is responsible for ensuring the protection of patient confidentiality throughout the Trust in accordance with your legal rights. In Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, our Caldicott Guardian is:

Dr Paul Sigston
Medical Director
Trust Headquarters
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Hermitage Lane
Kent
ME16 9QQ

Rights of access

In addition to accessing information identified in this Publication Scheme, you are entitled to request information about The Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust under the Code of practice on openness in the NHS 2003. This is available free of charge from the Department of Health website and hard copies are available free of charge from the Department of Health:

Department of Health Publications Order line
PO Box 777
London SE1 6XH
Tel: 0300 123 1002
(Minicom 0300 123 1003)
8am to 6pm Monday to Friday
Fax: 0162 372 45 24

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, you are entitled to access your clinical records or any other personal information held about you. To do this, you should contact:

The Medico-Legal Clerk
C/o Medical Records
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Hermitage Lane
Kent
ME16 9QQ