Decision 140/2019: Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow - failure to respond

Public authority: Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board
Case Ref: 201901322

Background

22 January 2019: The Applicant made an information request to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC).

20 February 2019: NHSGGC responded to the information request.

26 February 2019: The Applicant wrote to NHSGGC requiring a review of its decision.

The Applicant did not receive a response to her requirement for review.

7 August 2019: The Applicant wrote to the Commissioner's Office, stating that she was dissatisfied with NHSGGC's failure(s) to respond and applying to the Commissioner for a decision in terms of section 47(1) of FOISA. The enforcement provisions of FOISA apply to the enforcement of the EIRs, subject to specified modifications - see regulation 17.

27 August 2019: NHSGGC was notified in writing that an application had been received from the Applicant and was invited to comment on the application.

11 September 2019: The Commissioner received submissions from NHSGGC. These submissions are considered below.

Commissioner's analysis and findings

1. It is apparent from the terms of the request that at least some of the information caught by it will be environmental information as defined by regulation 2(1) of the EIRs. In Decision 218/2007 Professor A D Hawkins and Transport Scotland [1], the Commissioner confirmed at paragraph 51 that where environmental information is concerned, there are two separate statutory frameworks for access to that information and, in terms of the legislation, an authority is required to consider the request under both FOISA and EIRs.

2. Section 10(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the request to comply with a request for information. This is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case. The same timescale is laid down by regulation 5(2)(a) of the EIRs.

3. It is a matter of fact that NHSGGC did not provide a response to the Applicant's request for information within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it failed to comply with section 10(1) of FOISA and regulation 5(2)(a) of the EIRs.

4. Section 21(1) of FOISA gives Scottish public authorities a maximum of 20 working days following the date of receipt of the requirement to comply with a requirement for review. Again, this is subject to qualifications which are not relevant in this case. The same timescale is laid down by regulation 16(4) of the EIRs.

5. It is a matter of fact that NHSGGC did not provide a response to the Applicant's requirement for review within 20 working days, so the Commissioner finds that it failed to comply with section 21(1) of FOISA and regulation 16(4) of the EIRs.

6. The remainder of section 21 and regulation 16 sets out the requirements to be followed by a Scottish public authority in carrying out a review. As no review has been carried out in this case, the Commissioner finds that NHSGGC failed to discharge these requirements: he now requires a review to be carried out in accordance with section 21 and regulation 16.

7. In its submissions, NHSGGC advised that it been challenging to deal with the subject matter of the request, particularly against a backdrop of continual media interest in issues at the QEUH, deaths of patients attributed to infections and internal and external reviews of the hospital.

8. The Commissioner notes that NHSGGC will ensure that the Applicant receives an apology for the delay experienced.

Decision

The Commissioner finds that Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board (NHSGGC) failed to comply with Part 1 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) and the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (the EIRs) in responding to the information request made by Applicant. In particular, NHSGGC failed to respond to the Applicant's request for information and requirement for review within the timescales laid down by sections 10(1) and 21(1) of FOISA and regulations 5(2) and 16(4) of the EIRs.

The Commissioner requires NHSGGC to provide a review by 11 November 2019.

Appeal

Should either the Applicant or NHSGGC wish to appeal against this decision, they have the right to appeal to the Court of Session on a point of law only. Any such appeal must be made within 42 days after the date of intimation of this decision.

Enforcement

If NHSGGC fails to comply with this decision, the Commissioner has the right to certify to the Court of Session that NHSGGC has failed to comply. The Court has the right to inquire into the matter and may deal with NHSGGC as if it had committed a contempt of court.

Claire Stephen
Deputy Head of Enforcement
26 September 2019

 

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