What is a publication scheme?

The Royal Marsden’s publication scheme (which is based on the Information Commissioner’s Model Publication Scheme) provides a guide to the information routinely made available to the public.

Why have a publication scheme?

Under Section 19 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), The Royal Marsden has a legal duty to adopt and maintain a publication scheme for the publication of information produced by the Trust. The purpose of the FOIA is to promote greater openness and better decision-making in all public bodies. The NHS and all its many different trusts and services are classed as public bodies.

Under the FOIA, The Royal Marsden is required to make information available to the public as part of its normal business activities.

Publication schemes have to specify:

• the classes of information which each authority publishes or intends to publish
• how it publishes the information (or how it intends to do so)
• whether information is provided free or for a charge

The scheme commits The Royal Marsden to:

• publish or otherwise make available information, including environmental information, held by The Royal Marsden
• publish or otherwise make available information in line with the statements contained within this scheme
• produce and publish the methods by which the specific information is made available so that it can be easily identified and accessed by members of the public
• review and update on a regular basis the information The Royal Marsden makes available under this scheme
• produce a schedule of any fees charged for access to information which is made available
• make this publication scheme available to the public

The classes of information will not generally include:

• information which is prevented from being disclosed by law, exempt under the FOIA or otherwise protected from disclosure
• information in draft form
• information that is no longer readily available or difficult to access as it's contained in archived files

Disability and diversity needs

Most of the information contained in this publication scheme is available on this website, and information may be viewed or downloaded from the site free of charge. Free internet access is available at local libraries.

Should you require any information listed in the publication scheme in large print, audiotape or in another language or format, please contact Corporate Governance on 020 7811 8239 to discuss what arrangements we can make to assist you in your request.

If you cannot find an item of information or you need assistance, please let us know and we will do our best to help.

Charges for information

There will be no charge for examining any publication scheme information contained on The Royal Marsden’s website.

There may be a charge if a large volume of printed material is required. You will be told about any photocopying charges at the time of your request.

The cover price will be charged for any publications produced by The Royal Marsden for sale. Charges will be kept under review and there is no intention to charge for material that has previously been available free.

Publication scheme

The publication scheme is divided into seven high level classes of information. We are not required to make information routinely available when:

• the information is not held
• the information is exempt from disclosure under legislation (such as the FOIA or the Data Protection Act 1998), e.g. personal data or information that is commercially sensitive
• The Royal Marsden cannot easily access the information

Our publication scheme states the information that is accessible, its format (mostly via The Royal Marsden’s website) and any charge that may be made for providing the information. Please note that this does not cover FOI requests, which are answered within 20 working days of receiving the request.

1. Who we are and what we do

Organisational information, structures, locations and contacts.

The Royal Marsden is a world-leading cancer centre specialising in cancer diagnosis, treatment, care and education. As a leading specialist centre The Royal Marsden is internationally-renowned for its groundbreaking work in patient care, researching new drug therapies and treatments.

In addition to providing first-rate clinical services, we are partnered with The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR). Together we form the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, with a combined staff of 4,300. We are the only National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre solely dedicated to cancer.

The Royal Marsden has two hospitals: one in Chelsea, London, and another in Sutton, Surrey. We also have a Medical Daycare Unit at Kingston Hospital and we provide Sutton and Merton Community Services.

Founded by William Marsden, The Royal Marsden has been treating cancer patients since 1851. William Marsden’s vision was to create a pioneering cancer hospital dedicated to excellence in the study, treatment and care of people with cancer.

Today we continue to build on this legacy, constantly raising standards to improve the lives of the 50,000 cancer patients from across the UK and abroad we see each year.

2. What we spend and how we spend it

Financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, procurement, contracts and financial audit.

• A summary of The Royal Marsden’s audited annual accounts is published in the annual report and accounts
• Information on major plans for capital expenditure can also be found in our annual report and accounts
• Details of executive directors’ remuneration and pension benefits are set out in the tables within the accounts section of our annual report and accounts

You can find a copy of our annual report and accounts here. 

The Foundation Trust’s Standing Financial Instructions Policy sets out the powers reserved for the Board of Directors and the Scheme of Delegation sets out its other responsibilities. Decisions taken by the Board include the following:

• regulations and control
• appointment and dismissal of committees
• strategy, business plans and budgets
• policy determination
• appointment of internal auditors
• receipt and approval of the Trust’s annual report and accounts

Official invitations to tender for a service are published in Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the online version of the Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union.

3. Our priorities and what we are doing

Strategies and plans, performance indicators, audits, inspections and reviews.

Reports and business plans

• Annual report and accounts – current and past copies of the The Royal Marsden’s annual report
• Five Year Strategy – our five year strategy can be found here 

Performance

• See the Care Quality Commission’s performance rating for The Royal Marsden: Chelsea and Sutton
• The Integrated governance report provides stakeholders with a detailed quarterly overview of the care, research and infrastructure provided at The Royal Marsden
• National Inpatient Survey

Inspection and reviews

• NHS Protect
• Department of Health
• General Medical Council
• Health and Safety Executive
• Health Service Ombudsman
• Health Professions Council
• Care Quality Commission
• Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
• National Patient Safety Agency
• NHS Litigation Authority
• Nursing and Midwifery Council

4. How we make decisions

Decision-making processes and records of decisions.

We believe that effective governance (the process whereby organisations make strategic decisions, determine who is involved and ensure accountability is maintained) is essential to our success and future independence as a foundation trust.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) strategy:

• Patient and Carer Advisory Group (PCAG) is a group of patients, carers and members of the public who play an important role in helping The Royal Marsden focus on patients and their needs
• Council of Governers play a key role in the governance of The Royal Marsden

5. Our policies and procedures

Current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.

See below for downloadable policies and procedures.

For equality and diversity information, please refer to the equality and diversity section of this website.

6. Lists and registers

The Trust Information Asset Register is currently under review and will be available in due course.

7. Services we offer

Further information on cancer and details of the services we provide can be found throughout this website.