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Thursday 10 November 2011

Those notes.

Yesterday as you may recall I sent a FOI request to my local PCT. I received a reply today (That’s quick), stating that they are treating it under the data Protection Act instead. I suppose it is relevant under the circumstances, It’s reproduced here for your edification.

Hello xxxx

I can confim that we have received your request. 

This request is a request under the DPA 1998 not a Freedom of information act as you are asking for personal information about which you are the subject of.

We will begin processing your request and will be in touch for the relevant Identity required.  

kind regards

Pam

What I find irksome is that I took the trouble to write a formal letter and received an informal letter back. Notwithstanding that she addressed me by my Christian name which she spelt wrongly, she could have at least run the spellchecker through the E mail (Confim?).

Maybe it’s just me being pedantic, but a reply should be in the same vein, in my opinion. Not a very professional stance for a public servant.

I’m sure as well that they could have replied under the FOIA, however that only gives them 20 days, where as the DPA gives them 40 days.

I really must take off my tinfoil hat.

tinfoil (1)

7 comments:

  1. Her first four words are redundant. That fact that she's replying confirms they've received it.

    /pedantry

    ReplyDelete
  2. formal? This is the NHS you're talking about. (I personally type all my letters myself, as I type faster than my secretary, but I've never met anyone else who does this)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wait. You're requesting records with OUR name on them and that doesn't fall under FOIA? WTF?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Deer Flitty Engine... :-D

    Curly Wolf, probably is DPA rather than FOI if it's your own records. For instance. how many people did hospitals ask stupid and pointless questions about their religion/ethnicity of is probably FOI, but how many times did hospitals record my answers and whether they now think I'm a Jedi is probably DPA.

    ReplyDelete
  5. " .. as you are asking for personal information about which you are the subject of" ...

    I'd say her grammar requires some urgent attention too ..

    I suspect that your request brought about a squeaky-bum moment for the medical records clerk, which is why they've chosen the option which gives them the most time to try & concoct a reasonably believable story ..

    Should the eventual answer(s) not meet expectations & were I in the same position ..

    I think my next formal letter would make mention of "gross negligence" and "seeking legal advice" ..

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just received a formal E mail from the Deputy registrar, asking for proof of identity.

    Which I have duly sent to her.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Proof of i.d ? Simply visit the Deputy Registrar in person, produce a small mirror, look into it and say "Oh Yes that's definitely me".

    ReplyDelete

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