FOI – 2023-000317 - NGICNS Minutes (HTML)

Date received – 29 August 2023 | Date responded – 26 September 2023

Request

Could you please provide the minutes of the meetings of the National Gender Identity Clinical Network for Scotland's steering group. This should cover the period from September 2021 to the current date.

Response

I can advise we have now completed a search of our records and can provide you with the following information:

Please find attached the following appendices for the information you requested.

• Appendix 1 - 2021-11-03 NGICNS Steering Group Minute - v1_Redacted
• Appendix 2 - 2022-01-27NGICNS Steering Group Minute - v1_Redacted
• Appendix 3 - 2022-05-04 NGICNS Steering Group Minute V1_Redacted
• Appendix 4 - 2022-11-16 NGICNS Steering Group Minute V1_Redacted
• Appendix 5 - 2023-03-14 NGICNS Steering Group Minute V1_Redacted

NSS have redacted all names and job titles of staff listed in the above documents in line with Section 39(1) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 for “Health and Safety”.

Redactions have been made in order to protect the health and safety of NHS staff working in such a sensitive environment. NSS have deemed that the health and safety of NHS staff is paramount.

A number of considerations have to be made before the exemption can be applied:

Disclosure would, or would be “likely” to, endanger an individual’s health or safety.

Disclosure would result in danger to physical health, e.g. danger to someone as a result of physical injury, illness or disease. It could also mean damaging someone’s mental health as a result of the release of information.

After discussing this request with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde there has already been instances of staff members being targeted directly by protest groups. Therefore, it would be more than “likely” that release of names and job titles would endanger an individual’s health and safety.

As staff have already been targeted by protest groups further danger as a result of physical injury or damaging someone’s mental health would be more than just a possibility. NSS have deemed that further targeting of staff would be probable.

The final stage of applying this exemption is the consideration of the Public Interest Test. The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 does not define the public interest. It has been described elsewhere as “something which is of serious concern and benefit to the public”, not merely something of individual interest. It has also been described as “something that is “in the interest of the public”, not merely “of interest to the public.” In other words, it serves the interests of the public.

In weighing up the Public Interest Test NSS recognises that there is always a public interest in Scottish public authorities operating in an open and transparent manner, however on this occasion NSS has considered that there is absolutely no public interest in endangering the health and safety of NHS staff working in the area of transgender healthcare.

I trust you will find the information of assistance and if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of how we have dealt with your request, you can make representations to us asking us to review the handling of your request.

If you require any further information, please contact Head of Information and Cyber Security, Digital and Security within 40 working days of the date of this correspondence.

Contact

Address

If after a review you are still unhappy, you also have the right to apply to the Scottish Information Commissioner, who can be contacted at Kinburn Castle, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9DS, or via their application form.

National Services Scotland (NSS) is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. You can view all FOI responses within our FOI Publications repository.