Health and Social Care Act 2012

260Publication of informationE+W

(1)[F1NHS England] must publish all information which it obtains by complying with a direction under section 254 or a request under section 255 unless the information falls within subsection (2); and, subject to subsection (3), if the information falls within that subsection, [F1NHS England] must not publish it.

(2)Information falls within this subsection if—

(a)the information is in a form which identifies any relevant person to whom the information relates or enables the identity of such a relevant person to be ascertained and [F2NHS England], after taking into account the public interest as well as the interests of the relevant person, considers that it is not appropriate for the information to be published,

(b)the information is in a form which identifies any individual to whom the information relates who is not a relevant person or enables the identity of such an individual to be ascertained,

(c)[F2NHS England] considers that—

(i)the information fails to meet the information standards published under section 250 (so far as they are applicable), and

(ii)it would not be in the public interest to publish the information, or

(d)the information is of a description specified in a direction given to [F2NHS England] by the Secretary of State F3....

(3)A direction under section 254 may provide that the obligation to publish imposed by subsection (1) applies to information falling within subsection (2)(a) which is obtained by complying with the direction.

(4)Where [F4NHS England] publishes information which it obtains by complying with F5... a mandatory request under section 255, [F4NHS England]—

(a)must comply with the requirements (if any) specified in the F6... mandatory request as to the form, manner and timing of publication of the information, and

(b)may publish the information in such other form and such other manner, and at such other times, as it considers appropriate.

(5)Where [F7NHS England] publishes information which it obtains by complying with a request under section 255 other than a mandatory request, [F7NHS England]—

(a)may act in accordance with such provision (if any) as may be included in the request as to the form, manner and timing of publication of the information, and

(b)may publish the information in such other form and such other manner, and at such other times, as it considers appropriate.

(6)In considering the appropriate form, manner and timing of publication of information under this section, [F8NHS England] must have regard to—

(a)the need for the information to be easily accessible,

(b)the persons who [F8NHS England] considers likely to use the information, and

(c)the uses to which [F8NHS England] considers the information is likely to be put.

(7)In this Chapter “relevant person” means—

(a)any person who provides health care or adult social care, or

(b)any body corporate not falling within paragraph (a).