Publication Scheme

Last Updated: Thursday, 15 August 2024

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires each public authority to produce a publication scheme.

Under Section 19 of the Act, we have a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme. The main purpose of a Publication Scheme is to make information readily available to the public without the need for specific written requests. Therefore, the scheme is a Guide to Information automatically or routinely published by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 

The Act and Publication Scheme are intended to encourage organisations to publish proactively, and to develop a greater culture of openness.

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing what information it can and making it readily accessible and available.

What information is not covered by the scheme?

A large amount of the information held by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is personal and private to individuals and will not be published. Individuals who wish to access their own information can do so by making a separate application under the Data Protection Act.

Some information may be exempt from disclosure or inspection under separate legislation, and where this may apply, such information is excluded from publication.

The scheme and this legislation does not limit in any way other rights that people have to information, nor does it limit in any way the very large amount of information that is otherwise published outside the scheme. Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will also continue to publish material on a routine basis, in the form of guidance or assistance, about various hospital services.

Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, locations and contacts, constitutional and legal governance.

  1. How we fit into the NHS structure – see the About us section.

  2. Organisational structure – see the Organisational structure page.

  3. Senior staff and Trust board members – see the profiles for the Board of Directors.

  4. Location and contact details for all public facing departments – see Our Services and Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS.)

What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts. 

  1. Annual statement of accounts – see our Annual Report and Accounts.
  2. Budgets and variance reports – see the board meeting papers.
  3. Our expenditure – see our Annual Report and Accounts and spend by supplier.
  4. Our Standing Financial Instructions
What our priorities are and how we are doing

Strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections, and reviews. 

  1. Reports and business planning – useful documents can be found under publications and in our board meeting papers.

  2. Our performance – see our board meeting papers and Annual Report and Accounts.

  3. See more about our strategy.

How we make decisions

Policy proposals and decisions.

Decision making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations. 

  1. Board meeting papers – agenda, supporting papers and minutes

  2. Patient and public involvement – see our getting involved section for ways to get involved.

  3. Public consultations (for example concerning new developments or changes to services) – see our publications section and board meeting papers.

Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols for delivering our functions and responsibilities. 

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

Lists and registers

Information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority. 

  1. NHS England has published guidance on declaring Conflicts of Interest which is applicable to all staff members at the Trust. To view declarations of interest for Trust staff members made under this guidance go to: Declarations (mydeclarations.co.uk)

The services we offer

Advice and guidance, booklets and leaflets, transactions and media releases. A description of the services offered.

  1. Clinical and non-clinical services provided and/or commissioned – see our services.

  2. Patient information leaflets - coming soon.

  3. Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) – see the PALS page for more information.

  4. Advice and guidance – see our PALS page.

  5. Corporate communications and media releases – see our news and events.
How we are rated by the Care Quality Commission

Our last CQC inspection report was published in 24 July 2019 and we were rated as good.  For more information, go to our page on the CQC website at:  Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Overview - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)

Requesting information

If you wish to receive information that is not included in our publications scheme you may request this via whh.foi@nhs.net