About Us: Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) provides an obligation of openness and accountability, providing a right of public access to a wide range of information held by public authorities, including the NHS.

NHS Western Isles is committed to being open and transparent in the way that we work. The FOISA enables members of the public to scrutinise the decisions of public authorities more closely and thereby ensure that the services we provide are efficiently and properly delivered.

In order for a request to fall under the auspices of Freedom of Information, a request must:

  • Be in writing or in another permanent form (letter, fax, email, voicemail message)
  • State the name of the applicant and provide an address for correspondence (this can be an email address)
  • Describe the information requested

When requesting information please include the following details:

  • Your name and address
  • Daytime telephone (optional)
  • Email address if you would like information sent to you in this way
  • The information or documents you would like to access

You should submit your FOI/EIR in writing to:

Information Governance Manager
NHS Western Isles
Health Board Offices
37 South Beach
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2BB

Or via email to: wi.foi-requests@nhs.scot

Environmental Information Request:

Access to environmental information is governed by the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Although these Regulations are slightly different from the FOISA, they are applied in much the same way.

Publication Scheme:

The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) requires Scottish public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

  • Publish the classes of information that they make routinely available
  • Tell the public how to access the information they publish and whether information is available free of charge or on payment.

NHS Western Isles has adopted the model publication scheme which has been produced and approved by the Scottish Information Commissioner. Adopting this scheme commits us to producing a guide to information. The guide includes information about how we deliver our functions and services, how we make decisions, what we spend and how we spend it and how we are performing.

Further information

For further information about how NHS Western Isles processes, stores or shares your personal information or for further guidance on how you can exercise any of your rights detailed above, please contact the Information Governance Manager at:

Information Governance Manager/Data Protection Officer
NHS Western Isles
Health Board Offices
37 South Beach
Stornoway
Isle of Lewis
HS1 2BB

Tel:   01851 708037
Email: wi.dpo@nhs.scot