Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The complainant requested documents from Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) relating to the merger of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital and Bedford Hospital and also for information regarding the recent recruitment for two general manager positions within the Trust. The Trust had failed to provide a response to either request by the date of this notice. The Commissioner’s decision is that the Trust failed to respond to the requests within 20 working days and has therefore breached section 10 of the FOIA. The Commissioner requires the Trust to take the following steps to ensure compliance with the legislation. Issue a substantive response, under the FOIA, to both requests. The Trust must take these steps within 35 calendar days of the date of this decision notice. Failure to comply may result in the Commissioner making written certification of this fact to the High Court pursuant to section 54 of the FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court. Information Tribunal appeal EA/2021/0033 appeal withdrawn.