Department of Health and Social Care

The complainant, who is sight impaired, attempted to request information from the Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”).
The Commissioner’s decision is that DHSC failed to provide adequate advice and assistance to the complainant and therefore breached its duty under section 16 of FOIA.
The Commissioner requires DHSC to take the following step to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Provide the complainant with a telephone number that they can use to submit verbal requests for information in the future.
DHSC must take this step 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 FOIA and may be dealt with as a contempt of court.