Wirral Hospital NHS Trust has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a Publication Scheme for the publication of information, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

We are aware that information included in this scheme will change and we will use this section of the scheme to publish any such changes.

Information Management
The Publication Scheme Co-ordinator* is responsible for reviewing and updating the scheme when required. The Publication Scheme on the Trust's website will be reviewed and updated on a bi-monthly basis. Hard Copies of the Publication Scheme will be available at various locations throughout the community, namely local Libraries, Hospital Reception desks and Athena Information Rooms. These copies will be updated and re-issued on an annual basis in October.

Availability in Other Formats
Wirral Hospital Trust's Publication Scheme can be made available in different formats to meet the needs of people who have special requirements. The scheme may be made available in Braille format, in large print and on audio tape and can also be reproduced in a number of different languages. If you require this Publication Scheme in any of the formats referred to above, or you have any other special requirements, please contact the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator*.

Cost of Information
For the most part, we will charge you only for hard copies or copying onto media (e.g. CD-ROM). Some information is available free, but for others there may be a charge. The charges will vary according to how information is made available. The publications are all free unless otherwise indicated within each Class [£]. Charges are as follows:

a) Via the Trust's Web Site - Free of charge, although any charges for Internet Service provider and personal printing costs would have to be met by the individual.

For those without Internet access, a single printout as on the website would be available free of charge by application to the individual named in each class or the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator. However, requests for multiple printouts, or for archived copies of documents that are no longer accessible or available on the web, may attract a charge for the retrieval, photocopy, postage etc. We will let you know the cost and charges that will have to be paid in advance. We will not provide printouts of other organisation's websites.

b) Leaflets and brochures - Free of charge for leaflets or booklets on, for example, services we offer to the public.

c) "Glossy" or other bound paper copies, or in some cases a CD-ROM, video or other mediums may be charged for as indicated in the Classes.

d) e-mail - will be free of charge unless it says otherwise

The charges will be reviewed regularly.

Throughout this Publication Scheme, there are references to 'Wirral Hospital', 'Wirral Hospital Trust', 'Wirral Hospital NHS Trust' or 'The Trust'. All references mentioned above and throughout the Publication Scheme relate to the organisation 'Wirral Hospital National Health Service Trust', as per the Establishment Order in 1990. Details of how to obtain copies of the Establishment Order can be found in Class 2.

Copyright
The material available through this Publication Scheme is subject to the Wirral Hospital NHS Trust's copyright unless otherwise indicated. Unless expressly indicated on the material to the contrary, it may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium, provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading manner. Where any of the copyright items in this Scheme are being re-published or copied to others, you must identify the source of the material and acknowledge the copyright status. Permission to reproduce material does not extend to any material accessed through the Publication Scheme that is the copyright of third parties. You must obtain authorisation to reproduce such material from the copyright holders concerned. For HMSO Guidance Notes on a range of copyright issues, see the HMSO web site:

www.hmso.gov.uk/guides.htm

or contact:

HMSO Licensing Division,
St Clements House,
2-16 Colegate,
Norwich,
NR31BQ,
Tel: 01603 621000,
Fax: 01603 723000,
Email: HMSO Licensing.