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The Chairman of the SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee has voiced his committees concerns at a refusal by the Southern Trust to supply information following a Freedom of Information request on the Trust's Stabilisation Project at Daisy Hill from a member of their committee. Eddy Curtis had asked for a copy of all communications in relation to the project. Following difficulties at the hospital in recent months the Trust have been working on a stabilisation plan for the facility. Explaining the plan the Trust explain "The plan focuses on immediately stabilising services for the summer months in light of challenges with senior medical cover."
In reply to the request the Trust stated that they were implementing section 36 (2) of the Freedom of Information Act and therefore would not be replying or supplying the information requested by the FOI. The Trust in their reply explained "This exemption applies where releasing the information would cause prejudice to the effective conduct of public affairs. Disclosure would or would be likely to inhibit the free and frank provision of advice/exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation. The use of this exemption essentially allows for the fact that public authorities need a ‘safe space’ to develop ideas, debate live issues, and reach decisions away from externalinterference and distraction. This exemption also applies if disclosure would, or would be likely to, inhibit the ability of staff and others to express themselves openly, honestly and completely, or to explore extreme options, when providing advice or giving their views as part of the process of deliberation. The rationale for this is that inhibiting the provision of advice or the exchange of views may impair the quality of decision making."
Francis Gallagher Chairman of SOS Daisy Hill Hospital Committee stated, “Our Committee are infuriated at the behaviour of the local Trust. Their failure to provide the information we have requested has made our action group feel the Trust has information it does not want disclosed to the public. Government organisations should be open and transparent and provide all information requested by the community to show how major strategic decisions have been taken and implemented.”
Eddy Curtis Committee Member said, “The government brought in the Freedom of Information Act so communities could hold Public Servants and Politicians to account and that included the provision of all requested data . This deliberate act by the Trust only fuels residents concerns that conversations and correspondence were held which should be hidden from our community regarding the Daisy Hill Hospital Stabilisation process. This is totally unacceptable and once again reinforces the urgent need for the N.Ireland Assembly to go back into government and investigate the governance of local Trusts and review immediately how Public Consultations are conducted. We will write to the Information Commissioner and ask his office to immediately investigate the decision of the Trust to withhold the requested data, our committee will also be taking their own legal advise so they can agree how to manage the situation”
