Freedom of information

How to make a Freedom of Information request

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act gives you the right to know how our services are run, how much they cost, our targets and results, and how you can make a complaint if you need to. Anyone can request information under the FOI Act.  

Before you make a request

Before making a request check to see if the information you need is already available on our Publication Scheme. This includes all the information we publish about our services and information routinely asked for by members of the public.

How to make a request

If the information you need isn't available on our publication scheme you can contact us:

Freedom of Information 
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Trust Headquarters
Portland House
Richmond Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 1HS

Email: foi@spft.nhs.uk 

Requests must be in writing and include your name and address or email address.

Try to be as specific as possible about the information you'd like as this will help us to respond accurately and promptly. Please include a contact telephone number where possible.

When we receive your FOI request we will send you an acknowledgement and give you a response to your request within 20 working days of your request.  If we need further clarification of your request we will contact you.

Sometimes, we may be unable to provide some or all of the information requested. If this happens we'll explain the reasons why.

We can charge fees for requests, outlined in the Freedom of Information Fee Regulations. Charges vary according to what is being requested and how information is to be made available. 

If the cost of obtaining, verifying and sending you the information is more than £450, we don't have to provide you with the information you've requested.  If this is the case, we will contact you and may suggest how your request could be refined.

Please contact us directly if you're not happy with our response and ask for an internal review. You'll need to contact us within two months of the date you received our response to your original request by email or by writing to:

Jane Padmore
Chief Executive
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Portland House
Richmond Road
Worthing
West Sussex
BN11 1HS

If you're not happy with the outcome of the internal review, you can apply to the Information Commissioner for a decision by writing to: 

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

See the Information Commissioner's Office website for more information.