Trusts blaming cyber-attack risk for failing to share information

Four trusts have been warned by the UK’s information regulator over their failure to respond to freedom of information requests.

The Information Commissioner’s Office said it carried out an assessment across the NHS provider sector after receiving regular complaints over delays and backlogs. The review focused on compliance with the FOI Act, which grants the right to access information held by public authorities. 

The review has resulted in Nottingham University Hospitals Trust being served an enforcement notice over a “significantly low compliance rate” and a backlog of nearly 200 requests that were over a year old. The formal order is issued when an authority is considered as failing to comply with obligations.

The ICO said NUH had answered only 17% of requests within the statutory deadline compared to an average of 82%. 

ICO director of FOI Warren Seddon said most trusts were treating the laws with the “seriousness that is required”. But he added: “A small number still show significant room for improvement and that’s where we step in.”

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Source: HSJ, 28 July 2025