The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

This decision notice refers to a subject matter – the Lucy Letby case - that some readers may find distressing. Through five requests, the complainant asked the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (‘the Trust’) for information about blood sampling. The Trust refused the requests, relying on sections 31(1)(a), (b), (c) and 31(1)(g) of FOIA, which relate to law enforcement. The Commissioner has decided that requests 2 – 5 aren’t valid requests for recorded information under section 8(1) of FOIA and that sections 31(1)(a), 31(1)(b) and 31(1)(c) were correctly applied to request 1. No further action is required from the Trust. Information Tribunal FT/EA/2026/0060 under appeal.