Guide to information provided by GPs under the Model Publication Scheme

Introduction The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires all public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme. 

In 2008, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) introduced a single generic model publication scheme, for adoption by all public authorities that are subject to the FoIA. 

The model publication scheme commits a public authority to “produce and publish the method by which the specific information will be available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public”. This is a very general scheme based on the principle that all public authorities need to recognise the public interest in the transparency of the services provided and paid for by the general public. It is a commitment to make information easily available to the public. 

General practitioners (GPs), providing primary medical services under most contracts with the NHS in England and Wales and with HSC Northern Ireland, are public authorities in respect of information relating to those services. 

The Freedom of Information Act gives the public the right to ask for certain information held by public authorities, such as the NHS (and including GP practices), and allows members of the public to see information about how public services are developed and delivered. 

The practice and the Freedom of Information Act In line with the FoIA, and our status as a GP surgery, we operate a publication scheme providing information about the practice and the services that we provide. Information covered by this scheme is only about the general medical services that we provide under contract to the National Health Service.

You can also view our Publication Scheme page.