Frequently Asked Questions on the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland’s policy on disclosing information

To assist members of the public and pharmacists in understanding the application of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland’s policy on disclosing information, below are a set of frequently asked questions and answers.

How do I make a request for information from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland?

Simply contact us with your request either by:

• Email at info@psni.org.uk;
• Telephone on 02890 326 927; or by
• Writing or in person at Society House, 73 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HL

What happens when I make a request for information from the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland?

The Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland works on a general presumption of openness in terms of any requests for information made to us. Indeed, through our publication scheme we aim to make information available before you need to ask for it.

We will respond to a request within 20 days either:

• Providing you with the information requested;
• Letting you know of any reasonable delay in obtaining the requested information; or
• Informing you if the information requested is non-disclosable and the reasons for non disclosure (e.g. due to restriction in place under the Data Protection Act 1998, the operation of our Data Destruction Policy, unreasonable costs that would be incurred in obtaining the information, or the information is held by another agency)

 Will I have to pay for the information requested?

In line with our aim to be an open, transparent and accessible register, we will endeavour as far as we can to provide information to the public and to pharmacists without charge.

However, provision of certain information requests can, on occasion, incur reasonable expenses to the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland in their retrieval or production which we may consider acceptable to seek to recoup.

An example would be a request for a hard copy of the ring binder Code of Ethics for Pharmacists in Northern Ireland or the Pre-Registration Tutor Training Manual which are produced by specialist designers and printers.

We will always inform an individual who requests information of any charges that could be incurred from their request. No charge will be incurable to an individual requesting information without their prior agreement.

Where can I find more information about the information the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland does and doesn’t publish routinely, or might charge for?

The Freedom of Information Policy and Publication Scheme of the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland is available to read and review online:

http://www.psni.org.uk/documents/243/FOI+and+Publications+Policy.pdf

The table in the final pages sets out those items of information provided free of charge, and those we deem reasonable to seek some recoup of costs incurred.

Where can I find more information about my rights and responsibilities in relation to information requests?

There are many sources of information on the internet to help you understand your legal entitlements to obtaining information from organisations such as the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. Recommended sources include:

• Reference to primary pieces of legislation

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 introduced a public “right to know” in relation to public bodies as well as an obligation on public bodies to maintain a pro-active “publication scheme”.

There is no special format for a freedom of information request. Applicants do not need to mention the act when making a request. Applicants do not have to give a reason for their request.

The Act also permits an information request to be refused if the body to whom the request is made considers that the costs involved, including the time spent retrieving the information, could total more than £600.

• The Information Commissioner’s Office

The Office of the Information Commissioner oversees the operation of the Freedom of Information Act.

Any individual who considers that an information request made to a public body has been wrongly or unfairly rejected may make an application to the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner then has the power to order a disclosure from said body if he views the application as having merit.